http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/ Engadget Comments for Switzerland bans some GPS devices for speed camera warnings http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/
wow im so glad i dont live in Switzerland, what do u guys think of this situation?]]>Feb 9th 2007 12:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/Feb 9th 2007 1:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/
]]>Feb 9th 2007 12:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/
Thank you for posting an intelligent response to this article. And god forbid a country should pass a law that promotes safety on the roads. But you're right. If it really *was* a free country, you'd be allowed to kill yourself and those around you any way you want. Not that it matters, since I feel fairly safe in assuming that you have never been to Switzerland, and probably never will.]]>Feb 9th 2007 1:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/
second: to brennan: well, i think you live in the states. right?
i dont like this decision that gps with radar warning are "forbidden". but cant you see that there's a reason? why doing radar controls when everyone hits the breaks 100 meters in front of the radarstation and then pushing the engine to 200km/h??? well, this wouldnt improve security on the roads...

i am not that a patriot, but, i am proud to be citizien of the oldest democracy of the world.
so shut up brennan.

peace, your outh comrade ;)]]>Feb 9th 2007 1:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/Feb 9th 2007 1:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/Feb 9th 2007 1:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/correct me if i misunderstood your comment.
but why warn someone because of a speed camera when he allready knows that 120km/h are allowed? if you know the rules don't brake them, and don't try to cheat...]]>Feb 9th 2007 1:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/thats a thing why i like switzerland. the democracy is working better than in most "democratic states".
why you think a bit of patriotism is bad? i am politically absolutely neutral, but hey, would you prefer to live in anarchistic mess like afghanistan? i feel sorry for the people there, but i am still glad to live where i live. i could have hit it more badly.]]>Feb 9th 2007 1:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/
but anyone that goes over 150kmph should have their skulls cut off and shit shoeved down them. Or people that smoke... or people that do whatever the "enlighted" feel is "bad" for them. Those freedoms are, well, not important.

I think that one thing that America has established that Europe doesn't get is that freedoms can't be picked out of a hat to preserve... they all need to be. Tho, even here, we're losing everyday rights left and right as well. Don't blame me, i'm a libertarian.

the nanny states of Europe and their total disregard for personal freedoms... they make it so i can't hear their bullshit.. its too loud, and my headphones can't go that loud.]]>Feb 9th 2007 2:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/
Given the choice between living in a country where I have the right to trial by jury or one where I have the right to smoke in public, I know which I'd choose.

I honestly don't see why one should be allowed to drive at a speed over 150km/h on anything but a highway. People seem to think that the government's out to get them because they get fined if they drive over the speed limit, and don't seem to understand that the government is primarily attempting to curb road deaths. And I don't see why somebody should be allowed to use a device to enable them to break such a law without being detected. That said, with the exception of Germans and perhaps one or two other nationalities us Europeans can't drive for peanuts.

Sorry to rant]]>Feb 9th 2007 3:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/However, given the chance, i'd rather one million times to live in Switzerland than in the US (I've been in both countries several times). I don't know what US citizens are so proud about, last time i checked, they have by far more restriants to their freedoms than those i have in my third world, underdeveloped country, my dear old Guatemala.
Let the Flaming begin!!!!]]>Feb 9th 2007 4:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/
I'm concerned about the overreaching sense of this policy. For this to be strongly enforced it would require strict management of all electronics in all cars, including cell phones, PDA's, iPod's, etc.

The police would need to have strict source code escrow of all software running on any device carried in the car. Otherwise it would be trivial
to have, say, your Tom Tom, offer warnings in an obscured form.

An application to warn of the location of speed cameras could be implemented on any modern phone, no GPS required, cell tower location is enough.

You don't need great precision in order to warn people of a hazardous situation. The cost of slowing a mile or more too early is trivial compared to a ticket.

I won't swear to it, but I suspect you could get positional accuracy to a kilometer with an inertial navigation system built around cheap accelerometers and hacked together code.

Add a cheap PIC and a piezo buzzer and you could violate swiss law in an altoids tin.

I am going off to extremes, but I'm troubled by attempts to criminalize location.
]]>Feb 9th 2007 5:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/this is no news, as any devices intended to outtrick speed cameras are illegal in switzerland (which could be one indicator why switzerland is on the safer end in the IRTAD study http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_safety). ]]>Feb 9th 2007 5:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/The Swiss are actually preventing people from recognizing a low speed zone (ie. a camera covered area), apparently hoping that drivers will continue to speed in order to pull them over and fine them.
This is equivalent to concealing speeding signs, so no-one is sure what the maximal speed allowed is on a section of road.
The point of the article is that the Swiss are punishing people for merely for identifying camera monitored areas. Will it soon be illegal to speak to someone regarding these areas too?
If you are willing to trade so many of your freedoms in the name of "safety" and bow to government obtrusiveness, you are pathetic person.
]]>Feb 9th 2007 9:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/
As an opinion piece (for that is, in fact, all that it is) it succeeds in revealing nothing interesting to a gadgeteer but instead only exposes only the authors prejudices and engenders a whole plethora of responses replete with jingoistic chest thumping.

One suspects that this was the authors original intent... Too lazy or incompetent to carry out any real research at worst you can always fall back on the ultimate journalistic cop out. Insult someone and wait for the reactions...

Come on Engadget, how about some enforcement of a basic level of article quality or are the editorial staff all on sabbatical?]]>Feb 10th 2007 12:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/1_ freedom, yes.
when leaving in a community, your freedom stops where you start removing one's own freedom
I think I have to explain.
you have a neighbourg
you can dump your garbage in your own backyard. good for you, that is your freedom.
BUT IT STOPS when this garbage is making health risk for your neighbourg

well, just one example.
and US is applying it as well.

I do prefer france with the radar listed publicly (at least the fixed ones)

and hate the property destruction involved in the swiss law

yet, maybe you need to consider things like in that case, repression since the 90's in western europe, has cut the yearly road death by about 50%, not bad for 5000 families a year in france who's kid did not die because a TOTAL freedom lover feels he can speed in a town, or dirve drunk.

until all people get enough responsability and drive saely, which is not going to happen until manual driving is removed and replace by automated stuff.
so until 100% of people do drive right, then maybe we wont have any death.

so if just ONE a day in a country is stupid enough to hit the breaks 100 meter before the radar, and speed again right after, then forbid the tool, destroy it, and get his car out of him. that will save lives.

VIVA automated pilots, and if you really want to drive, then Circuits, out of town, where you can KILL yourself as much as you want. but will never kill a full family coming back from scholl with the kids.
]]>Feb 10th 2007 10:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/
Have a look here: http://www1.vg.no/uploaded/image/bilderigg/2005/11/28/1133158246918_940.gif

]]>Feb 10th 2007 2:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/I am not complaining about Switzerland (so many good things here), but here I see so many people stoped by police asking for documents like in Nazy time and thanks god I am not black. And for end, official name of city police is STAPO (not GESTAPO ;)).

Cheers!]]>Feb 21st 2007 1:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/
When I first heard of these devices, I thought I'd wait until the next generation but I think if there are going to be bans, then I might pick one up to support the R&D. We have stupid bans here in the U.S., like the state of virginia banning radar detectors, but that doesn't stop people from using them...well, not me. Then there are radar detector, detectors, and well, radar detector, detector detectors...fun.

The issue isn't driving recklessly, the issue is it is a 15 billion dollar a year industry to write speeding tickets...might be even higher now. The federal gov. only spends 25 billion in education, so that should give you a comparison. Tickets are big money and I have to say that all but one speeding ticket throughout my lifetime was not for public safety but for revenue. 63 in a 50 on I-95, yeh that is not public safety...especially when everyone goes at least 70...that's called revenue. Yeh, ticket people who speed excessively but don't ticket people for the sake of revenue then we won't want this junk.]]>Feb 11th 2007 2:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/
At least unlike the UK, you don't lose your licence after you passed through four speed cameras (Yes, you get a fine plus 3 points on your licence. Collect a maximum of 12 points and you lose your licence for a period of 6 months upwards!)]]>Feb 12th 2007 2:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/Feb 12th 2007 7:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/Feb 13th 2007 5:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/
the real question is if this little gadget is good or bad, having seen the effects of a high-speed crash upclose (driving on the right lane when a car at 150+ smacked into a minivan left of me) I think this gadget is morally questionable bordering on the stupid.

the simple fact is that speed cameras save lives and reduce traffic jams, sad but true.

xabra]]>Feb 28th 2007 12:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/09/switzerland-bans-some-gps-devices-for-speed-camera-warnings/it only bans devices that are CONNECTED ONLINE to a server that pushes out locations MOBILE speed checks.
POI databases are still allowed.

In fact there is a company offering a simple GPS receiver with the DB built in, no display, it just beeps when you are near a fixed station.
]]>Mar 4th 2007 1:12PM