A few weeks ago I applied to take part in a NYS driving study. From the sounds of it, it seemed like they were just going to put a device in the OBD port and let you drive normally for a year or two. This morning I got a call from the study group and they told me that I had been selected to participate in it. When they began describing it, they mentioned having cameras mounted in the cabin, as well as one on the front license plate bracket. Now having them monitor my driving via an on board computer is one thing, but I’m not so sure I want them watching what I do too. Also, I don’t even have a front plate, so that raises another problem.
So, would you guys do it? Would you feel comfortable with having cameras in your car? Keep in mind they pay $500 a year, and all you have to do is drive.
500 a month is starting to sound more worth it. For 42 dollars a month it’s not worth it. Who installs the equipment? What happens if they break something or it causes issues?
I would do it, but not on my daily car. On the classic sure. That thing sees MAYBE 100 miles a year.
Or the farm truck that spends most of its time in the feilds.
The risk to you is no more than you would normally experience while driving.
Except for your two visits to the data collection location at the beginning and end of the study, you are not being asked to alter your daily driving routines in any way.
The vehicle is equipped with cameras.
If you drive into an area where cameras are not allowed, including international border crossings, certain military and intelligence locations, and certain manufacturing facilities, there is a risk that you may be detained or arrested or that your vehicle may be impounded.
We have provided a letter for the glove box which can be used to demonstrate your vehicle’s role in the study while still maintaining your confidentiality.
If your role in the study is made known, then we may not be able to protect your identifying information.
To help us protect your privacy, we have obtained a Certificate of Confidentiality from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health. The protections provided by this certificate are fully described on the Informed Consent page.
However, you should also take responsibility for protecting the fact of your participation in this study. Do not post or disclose your participation on any public forum including websites, Facebook, newspapers, radio and television. Protect your role in the study the same way that you protect other personal and private information. If you do not keep confidential your role in the study, there is a risk that some of the data collected during the study, including your personally identifying information, may be used against you in a court case or other legal proceeding.
The risk of completing the assessment portion while equipment is installed on your vehicle is no more than when you are doing activities in your daily life like filling in forms, walking, squeezing your hand, and working at a computer.
Benefits
You may find the experience interesting.
Participation will help to improve the body of knowledge regarding driving behavior and safety.
Participation may also help us design safer vehicles and roadways in future years.
While compensation is not considered a benefit per se, information about compensation may be found on the Compensation page.
They were at the open house at the Tonawanda engine plant this summer. At first I thought it was cool but $500 isn’t nearly enough money to give someone the right to watch me everyday.
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Possibility of being arrested or detained at the border? No thanks.
The privacy thing is what’s stopping me but as for the price, $500 a year isn’t bad considering you don’t really have to do anything besides drive as you normally would.
I can understand why studies like this should be done, but in no way would I like to participate.
Could be worse though…
The year is 1941. You are an assistant professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. You are awarded a grant by the California Committee on Relation of Electricity to Agriculture. Purpose: To find the effects of sub lethal electrical currents on the human body. You decide to use healthy human subjects. The subjects are given physical examinations and electrocardiograms. Only subjects in good physical condition are used. Subjects grasp a 12 inch length of bare copper No. 6 wire in one hand and the other hand is placed on a brass plate. Current is passed through the person from the left hand to the right hand. The subject is asked to drop the wire. After dropping the wire the experiment is repeated using more current, again and again, until the subject can no longer keep his hand on the eight inch diameter brass plate. Assistants are then used to hold the subjects hand on the brass plate and the experiment continues until the subject can no longer drop the wire because he cannot let go. This experiment is repeated with 28 subjects and the maximum let-go currents are tabulated and analyzed. Frequencies are changed from 60 cycles per second to 180 cps, then 500 cps, then to 1000 cps and the experiments are repeated. It is found that the average 60 cycle let-go current for men is 16 milliamperes and the average let-go current for women is 11 milliamperes.
Your name is Charles Dalziel and you have just begun. You will establish criteria on fibrillation currents using dogs, pigs, calves, and sheep. You become the authority on dangerous electric currents. Your experimentation will establish the principles for protecting persons from the hazards arising from the use of electricity, and your findings will be used for the notes to the Tables in Article 725 of the National Electrical Code.
Now heres how screwed up nys is. NYS has a huge fleet of state cars, they could easily do this and not have to pay anyone. I’m surprised they dont do this just to check up on us.
Oh the states broke---- HELLO!
not that i would want this on my state car but geez!!