Black boxes in NYC cabs would shut the toll meter off when a cab goes above the posted speed limit

[jsr]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/nyc-eyes-plans-prod-taxis-take-it-slower

NYC eyes plans to prod taxis to take it slower
By JENNIFER PELTZ
Mar. 1, 2014 12:06 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — Perpetually rushed New Yorkers have been telling cabbies to "step on it" for as long as there have been taxis, but the city wants to brake that hurry-up habit, in part by attacking the financial incentive to speed.

Cabs could be outfitted with black-box-style data recorders and devices that would sound warnings — or even pause the fare meter — for going too fast, even as speed limits on most city streets would drop from 30 to 25 mph.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, who made the proposals as part of his broader safe-streets plan, says drivers of New York's signature yellow cabs rightly should play a particular role in his push to curb traffic crashes.

"They set the tone on our streets," de Blasio said.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

1. Ugh. I see this going over well.

Bloomberg and his large soda ban may look like a libertarian by comparison before too long.

[unblock]

3. not a great comparison --

- driving over the limit is already illegal and to some extent already enforced.
- driving over the limit direct affects the safety of other people not involved in the transaction; not so for large sodas.

[treestar]

2. What are the statistics on crashes involving them

I happened to be in two recently and those drivers really get experience driving. They can maneuver just about any situation is my guess.

[Duckhunter935]

4. Maybe the mayor

should be the first to follow the laws, even install one in his motorcade cars.

CBS 2 Exclusive: De Blasio’s Caravan Caught Speeding, Violating Traffic Laws

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/02/20/cbs-2-exclusive-mayor-de-blasios-caravan-caught-speeding-violating-traffic-laws/

[hughee99]

7. Apparently, the mayor was "in danger" (probably of being late)

and they had to use special driving techniques to protect him. It's okay, though, because HE is an important person and other New Yorkers aren't.

[JJChambers]

5. Stupid

Me to the cabby: Step on it, I'll pay the difference if the meter shuts off plus your tip is proportional to how the fast you get me to my destination.

And yeah, the large soda ban is ridiculous and trivial. Instead of one large, I'll take two mediums.

[NYC Liberal]

6. Good. Get this passed.

[Fumesucker]

8. Nice visible public target to crack down on, nobody much likes cabbies anyway

And besides, this will give Tom Friedman more time to get great facts for his books, particularly if the idea spreads world wide.

[whistler162]

9. Anyone have a 32 oz. soda they want to share?

I got the popcorn.

[stevenleser]

10. Honestly, I don't think speeding is the issue. Not signaling, aggressive driving, jumping lights...

those are some of the issues. But I don't think the cabs actually exceed the speed limit all that often.

[Brickbat]

11. If only Wall Street were so micromanaged.