Section Control

“Average Speed Camera Systems”: in Austria we call it “Section Control” in the Netherlands it’s known as “Trajectcontrole” in Great Britain they call it “SPECS” in Italy it is “Tutor” and finally the Germans discuss about it – they say “Abschnittskontrolle”. Theses systems use two cameras to measures the time it takes you to pass the section. From that they calculate your average speed. If it is above the given limit it will be expensive. By the way: in Italy sometimes also the highway fee system is used to check your average speed. Limits are very close! Example: 100 km/h allowed –103 km/h or more measured – you pay. If you don’t take care and find yourself going a bit too fast you have to go the rest of the section pretty slow – just to ensure that you don’t exceed the average for the section. In general you’ll drive slower than allowed – simply to be on the safe side. Section Control helps you with this. If your average speed exceeds the given limit it will warn you. And if traffic prevents you from driving at the allowed speed – Section Control shows you “what’s left”. Of course you are not allowed to use this system to exceed the speed limits. But it is always good to know that you are on the safe side. Features: * Miles or Kilometers available * Two separate speed monitors * Each monitor has its own configuration * Tow calculation modes (accurate / safe) * Optical and acoustic warnings * Configurable sounds * Continuation after short pauses (Phone calls, …) * One touch access to Sound / Speed limit * GPS diagnostics for optimized positioning We already use the calculation algorithm in other software products for years. This means they are very solid (as long as the GPS signal is accurate). IMPORTANT: Even if the calculated average speed shows that you are below the limit – YOU MUST NOT EXCEED THE GIVEN SPEED LIMITS! This application uses GPS so it needs an Apple iPhone 3GS / 3G to work (or an external GPS system like the TomTom Car Kit).

Screenshots

FAQs

• What is "Standby Sound"?
  Section Control suppresses automatic standby. But if you use the standby button Section Control will run in the background.
  Background operation also consumes battery power and is not really useful (GPS runs "reduced" in standby).
  To inform you about the fact that Section Control is still active it gives feedback with a sound (every minute one beep).
• What is "GPS Diagnostics"?
  This show extra GPS values. Normally they are not useful (except for Geeks) and consume space (reducing readability).
  But you can turn them on to find the optimal position where to place your iPhone in the car.
• What are "Confirmation Dialogs"?
  If you switch off a running monitor it will reset the data with the next start. To avoid that this happens by accident Section Control asks you if you are sure.
  Such dialogs are annoying for experienced users. This option enables you to turn them off.
• What is meant with "Safe Mode"?
  Section Control is optimized for "continuous driving". Stop and go or slow speeds can have a negative influence to the calculations. This comes from the algorithms as well as from the fact that the iPhone GPS does not produce "very good" results at speeds below about 20mp/h.
  Safe Mode uses a different algorithm to compensate some of the problems. But it may result in a bit higher calculations.
  Which doesn't hurt - you are on the safe side. It's a good idea to keep this mode active.
• What is "Repeat Sound"?
  Acoustic warning work like this:
  Below the set limit - no Sound.
  Limit gets exceeded - Sound plays.
  You stay above the limit - no more Sound.
  You go below the limit and back over the limit again - Sound plays.
  With "Repeat Sound" the sound plays every 30 seconds - no matter if you are "again above" or "still above" the limit.
• How do I continue after a break (Phone call)?
  Take the call - Section Control quits.
  Home Button - The call stays active - but you see the "Home Screen".
  Start Section Control again - Call stays active and Section control works normal.
  ALTERNATIVE
  Take the call - keep your talk as short as possible.
  Finish the call - Section Control starts again automatically.
• Why is monitoring sometimes resumed (after a restart) and sometimes not?
  Section Control saves the current values if you quit it. Especially after short breaks (phone calls) it makes sense to continue the formerly running monitoring. Therefore Section Control checks if a resume is possible / makes sense.
  If Section Control decides to resume it takes the higher of the two possible speeds (before the break / after the break) and assumes that you have been driving this speed during the break.
  If the break was to long (in total or as percentage of the recorded data) to provide useful results Section Control does not resume running monitors.