Smart database
 14 years
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It seems that enactment of additional laws and aggressive enforcement of same does not necessarily provide for a safer driving environment. For instance, reference this report: http://technologyreview.com/wire/26391/?a=f with regards to the effect of some new legislation. Also reference the studies that show that red light and speed cameras may have contributed to actual increases in certain kinds of accidents.
With that in mind wouldn’t it make more sense to compile statistics on intersections and other areas of roadway where accidents occur and incorporate this information into a database that alerts drivers to potentially hazardous areas, perhaps using a color-coded scheme where red implies high probability and blue implies low chance of incidents? This database should also be robust enough to change rapidly as conditions change, for example, with fluctuation in number of cars along a stretch of road. I suppose it would have to have some ‘machine intelligence’. This website might in essence serve as just the beginning in the evolution of such a system.
Maybe it’s just common sense that areas of road such as intersections are inherently unsafe due to the unpredictable nature of drivers but there should be some fixed variables that might contribute to accidents, for example, poor design, and other variables such as weather that can be measured and assessed. Anyway, just a thought…
Database
I would hope that states would pass legislation that would tie funds that might be granted to lower jurisdictions to their participation in keeping statistics about their intersections, roundabouts, roads and highways. If lower jurisdictions had some incentive to do so, they might find out that there are various ways to improve safety.
As Seneca points out, there are many variables that enter into what happens on the road - road design/surfacing, where signage is located, speed limits, yellow light timing, street lighting, etc.
Citing an example close to home, there is a long curve on I75 North that is not "banked" enough to make it easy to negotiate the curve at normal speed. Seems to me it would be easy enough just to add more paving to the curve to change the way it is banked. I can't begin to count the number of times the guardrails have been replaced because someone lost control in the curve. With a database, it would become obvious that something needed to be done. In the case of this curve, banking it correctly should be obvious.
In the case of, say, multiple accidents at a particular intersection, the solution might be to lower the speed limit or increase yellow light timing. Or, if statistics were periodically gathered about backups at intersections, maybe a roundabout would be a solution.
IIHS
I thought it was interesting that the link from Seneca tells that the Insurance institute for Highway Safety concluded that texting laws have had no immediate benefit in reducing crashes. It was interesting because this is the group that people accuse of being biased when their studies conclude that Automated Traffic Enforcement reduces accidents.
Custom POIs
wouldn’t it make more sense to compile statistics on intersections and other areas of roadway where accidents occur and incorporate this information into a database that alerts drivers to potentially hazardous areas, perhaps using a color-coded scheme where red implies high probability and blue implies low chance of incidents? This database should also be robust enough to change rapidly as conditions change, for example, with fluctuation in number of cars along a stretch of road. I suppose it would have to have some ‘machine intelligence’. This website might in essence serve as just the beginning in the evolution of such a system.
This is why besides the camera POIs (and others I care to have)I also have the "2006 fatalities" POI in my GPSr. It is set to give me an alert 1500 feet before I get there, just so I'm extra cautious when crossing the area (usually a highway exit with a "merge" at the end of it--some people just plow in without stopping).
I agree with your idea. POI factory could be the start of this database, and authorities everywhere should look into something similar IF indeed they care about our safety and not just generate more "revenue" to pocket.
Garmin nuvi 1300LM with 4GB SD card Garmin nuvi 200W with 4GB SD card Garmin nuvi 260W with 4GB SD card r.i.p.
Interesting diversion while on a trip
This is why besides the camera POIs (and others I care to have)I also have the "2006 fatalities" POI in my GPSr. It is set to give me an alert 1500 feet before I get there, just so I'm extra cautious when crossing the area (usually a highway exit with a "merge" at the end of it--some people just plow in without stopping).
I wondered where this POI file was. In case others do so also, here is the link
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/16747
POI name is Fatalities from Fatality Analysis Reporting System 2006
That's the one
This is why besides the camera POIs (and others I care to have)I also have the "2006 fatalities" POI in my GPSr. It is set to give me an alert 1500 feet before I get there, just so I'm extra cautious when crossing the area (usually a highway exit with a "merge" at the end of it--some people just plow in without stopping).
I wondered where this POI file was. In case others do so also, here is the link
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/16747
POI name is Fatalities from Fatality Analysis Reporting System 2006
Didn't remember the actual name, but that's the one.
Garmin nuvi 1300LM with 4GB SD card Garmin nuvi 200W with 4GB SD card Garmin nuvi 260W with 4GB SD card r.i.p.