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Feb 26, 2026

Irresponsible Google - speed check alerts

I was driving along a road I don't use often today, when I noticed two separate cars flash the truck I was driving behind. I suspected that they were giving them a warning that there was a police speed check ahead. It was either that or they had their headlights on. It turns out it was the former - a police speed check. 


Just before I saw the policeman myself, Google declared, in English, something like "a digital speed check has been reported ahead".  The way they said it I thought it was just going to be a camera, not an actual policeman. But there he was, a policeman sat on a stool trying to blend in with the wall! I wasn't speeding, so it was no bother to me. But Google didn't give much notice, within a minute of my phone declaring this notification audibly, I saw the policeman.


The sad truth is that most people who get a speeding ticket don't deserve it. But every now and then, somebody who truly needs a reminder of why speed limits exist, gets pulled over and learns a valuable lesson that may prevent a serious accident. A friend of mine in Japan said to me quite recently that she actually hopes her husband is pulled over, because she worries about him driving every time he goes out the door. It made me see speed checks in a different light.


It may not be popular opinion, but sometimes a speeding ticket leads to more responsible driving. And it got me thinking: should Google really be allowed give such alerts? What do you think?


Irresponsible Google - speed check alerts photo

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

Former nickname was "Saitama". Changed it to save confusion on place review posts! Irish, 20+ years in Japan! I also write on my personal website: insaitama.com


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