The BBC reports that “New CCTV cars to catch drivers using their mobile phones or being otherwise distracted at the wheel are being piloted by Greater Manchester Police. The small Smart cars, which have a 12ft (3.6m) mast with a camera attached, are parked at junctions to monitor traffic. …Anyone seen driving while distracted – eating at the wheel, playing with the radio or applying make-up for instance – is filmed by the cameras.
Later, a letter is sent to the owner of the car, in many cases along with a fine. Anyone caught using their mobile will be asked to pay £60 and have three points added to their licence. Fines could also be handed out to anyone who is thought to be driving without due care and attention, or similar offences.”
Though I believe we are subject to far too much uncontrolled surveillance in the UK, I have no objection to this process.
Driving whilst using a mobile phone is like driving whilst drunk. In the past people have been able to get away with this dangerous behaviour. I still see a lot of people using their mobile phone whilst at the wheel.
As long as the data which is collected is not used for other purposes and is destroyed after a reasonable period of time, I think Manchester Police are to be applauded for trying to tackle this problem.
There are so many more serious issues with Labour’s surveillance state [such as data retention, that targeting distracted drivers is trivial.
There has also been a lot of unnecessary fuss about Google Street View. Anybody who is getting excited about this are straining at a gnat, and swallowing an elephant.
