At 02:16 AM 7/5/2001 -0400, Declan McCullagh wrote:
On Wed, Jul 04, 2001 at 09:42:48PM -0500, Jim Choate wrote:
If the auto vendor was really concerned about their vehicle they'd install a govenor (like they did on the '64 1/2 Mustand for example) that would limit the RPM's of the engine. Quick, easy, simple. A lot(!!!) less expensive (about $20) and more reliable than a GPS receiver.
Then you'd risk spurious lawsuits from someone who can't accelerate to get out of an accident situation, and you'd also lose the source of income you might get from all these speeding tickets you as the renter would levy.
I wonder how significant such GPS-based levies would influence the basic business model and competitiveness of an auto rental company. At first be might be used as a tactical revenue source to enable lower basic rates and attract new business, with the scofflaws paying for the difference between competitor's market rates and the lower rates afforded by the levies. Later, it might evolve into a sustainable advantage as those most likely to pay the levies avoid the agency the remaining customers may very well be much safer drivers enabling lower insurance premiums and costs of operation steve