Banning Of Radar Detectors

[sym]

Its certainly not about immunity from being caught - anybody believing this most definitely has a false sense of security / false impression of what these products do.

The awareness factor does not just relate to the speed that you are travelling - although this is obviously the point - its excess or inappropriate speed that causes accidents in the main, however these devices also alert you to High Risk Zones / Accident Blackspots / Schools (at least, mine does!) so there is definitely a case to be made for them, other than 'protection' from speed cameras and the like.

The high risk zone / accident blackspot feature is one that I find most useful when I'm on unfamiliar roads, and its useful to be alerted to speed cameras, even if you are not exceeding the limit, as other drivers reactions to them if they are over the limit can be dangerous, to say the least.

S.

 

[uumode]

The awareness factor does not just relate to the speed that you are travelling - although this is obviously the point - its excess or inappropriate speed that causes accidents in the main, however these devices also alert you to High Risk Zones / Accident Blackspots / Schools (at least, mine does!) so there is definitely a case to be made for them, other than 'protection' from speed cameras and the like.

The high risk zone / accident blackspot feature is one that I find most useful when I'm on unfamiliar roads, and its useful to be alerted to speed cameras, even if you are not exceeding the limit, as other drivers reactions to them if they are over the limit can be dangerous, to say the least.

S.

ah ... all makes sense now. :bannana:
Thanks for the clarity of your response.

 

[Jono_1001]

The high risk zone / accident blackspot feature is one that I find most useful when I'm on unfamiliar roads, and its useful to be alerted to speed cameras, even if you are not exceeding the limit, as other drivers reactions to them if they are over the limit can be dangerous, to say the least.

S.

In a similar manner to this point; we have a speed camera positioned outside work on a multi-carriage road. The speed limit is 50mph.
However many motorists when seeing the camera jam their brakes on to slow to 30 mph (why I don't know), which can be disastrous to those who are aware of the speed limit. Being forewarned of an approaching speed camera can make you more sensitive to the possibility of this type of reaction.

 

[fuzzer]

there is a HUGE problem in this country with lack of signs telling you the speed limit ...

I think the biggest laugh is the highway code which states about the distance between lamp posts when trying to work out a roads speed ......

Wait a min , ill just get my measuring tape out and work out the distance ......

 

[Pietre]

If you ask Mr Plod he will give you the response "Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit should be treated as 30mph" and that is what they would say in court if you were nabbed, and I think that gets them around the old 100yard rule between streetlamps, as that is another indicator of a 30 limit. dont get the tape measure out as I bet they will have a = or - 20% clause somewhere. Just remember you are not guilty of anything until you are caught, so is the crime getting caught or commiting the crime?

 

[GrahamC230K]

there is a HUGE problem in this country with lack of signs telling you the speed limit ...

I use that method. When they blur together into a solid, you are going too fast.


I do agree, that is one of the funniest rules.

 

[Paul Grainger]

A close friend of mine (drinking partner) is a traffic cop. He often visits my house for a coffee when on duty in his jam sandwich (gives the neighbours something to talk about). Out of interest we did some tests with his hand-held laser speed camera, using my USA purchased multi band radar detector, which also has laser detection.

We found that the beam spread at 200 yards (my mate reckoned that this is typical distance) was minimal. The detector would not register the laser unless it was pointed directly at it. He also said that all of the speed cameras that he had been trained to use were laser type. It would seem then that these things are a total waste of time.

Result - I don't even bother with the thing any more. I am, however, thinking about getting a road angel. Not because I want to speed, but because it's too easy to be slightly over the the limit and get 'done' by a fixed camera. I currently have two speeding convictions - both from fixed cameras in areas that I do not normally travel - both were less than 10mph over the posted limit.

Paul G

 

[fuzzer]

A close friend of mine (drinking partner) is a traffic cop. He often visits my house for a coffee when on duty in his jam sandwich (gives the neighbours something to talk about). Out of interest we did some tests with his hand-held laser speed camera, using my USA purchased multi band radar detector, which also has laser detection.

We found that the beam spread at 200 yards (my mate reckoned that this is typical distance) was minimal. The detector would not register the laser unless it was pointed directly at it. He also said that all of the speed cameras that he had been trained to use were laser type. It would seem then that these things are a total waste of time.


Paul G

That would be an interesting test to do with a laser Jammer.....

 

[sym]

That would be an interesting test to do with a laser Jammer.....

Tim (mobilecentreuk) was doing some testing of people's laser jammers at the recent GTG, with a laser gun that he brought along. They seemed to be effective at a reasonable distance in causing the gun to produce an error code. I'm not sure what distance it was tested over, but I assume the normal operating range of the laser gun.

He tested my Snooper S4, which is supposed to have 360 degree laser coverage, not with the gun, but with a hand held tester . . and it would only trigger when the device was pointed directly at the front of the unit. I'm therefore not convinced of its effectiveness. I think the road angel performed slightly better in these tests . . . anybody know ?

S.

 

[fuzzer]

Tim (mobilecentreuk) was doing some testing of people's laser jammers at the recent GTG, with a laser gun that he brought along. They seemed to be effective at a reasonable distance in causing the gun to produce an error code. I'm not sure what distance it was tested over, but I assume the normal operating range of the laser gun.

He tested my Snooper S4, which is supposed to have 360 degree laser coverage, not with the gun, but with a hand held tester . . and it would only trigger when the device was pointed directly at the front of the unit. I'm therefore not convinced of its effectiveness. I think the road angel performed slightly better in these tests . . . anybody know ?

S.

Snooper stuff has never really been that great

The only two radar detector makes that make the grade are BEL and Valintine.

 

[Steve_Perry]

Tim (mobilecentreuk) was doing some testing of people's laser jammers at the recent GTG, with a laser gun that he brought along. They seemed to be effective at a reasonable distance in causing the gun to produce an error code. I'm not sure what distance it was tested over, but I assume the normal operating range of the laser gun.

He tested my Snooper S4, which is supposed to have 360 degree laser coverage, not with the gun, but with a hand held tester . . and it would only trigger when the device was pointed directly at the front of the unit. I'm therefore not convinced of its effectiveness. I think the road angel performed slightly better in these tests . . . anybody know ?

S.

When was that?
Typical... I totally missed this aspect of the last GTG

S.

 

[GrahamC230K]

When was that?
Typical... I totally missed this aspect of the last GTG

S.

There was a BBQ too

 

[Plodd]

there is a HUGE problem in this country with lack of signs telling you the speed limit ...

I think the biggest laugh is the highway code which states about the distance between lamp posts when trying to work out a roads speed ......

Wait a min , ill just get my measuring tape out and work out the distance ......

It's not really that difficult.
If there's nothing telling you otherwise, it's 30mph.
I certainly don't mean to be rude but it amazes me that people have a problem with this, treat all roads as 30mph unless you see signs to the contrary. You may sometimes end up doing 30 in a 40/50 because you missed the sign but that won't get you 3 points.

 

[uumode]

It's not really that difficult.
If there's nothing telling you otherwise, it's 30mph.
I certainly don't mean to be rude but it amazes me that people have a problem with this, treat all roads as 30mph unless you see signs to the contrary. You may sometimes end up doing 30 in a 40/50 because you missed the sign but that won't get you 3 points.

probably 30 years later, there could be intelligient speed limiters in cars which limit the car's speed to the accident hotspot area. (if you are already below it) If you are above it then it takes a pretty picture and slows you down gradually to the limited speed. Then they can remove all those speed humps, narrowed roads etc

 

[Steve_Perry]

There was a BBQ too

There was?




S.

 

[Dieselman]

He tested my Snooper S4, which is supposed to have 360 degree laser coverage, not with the gun, but with a hand held tester . . and it would only trigger when the device was pointed directly at the front of the unit. I'm therefore not convinced of its effectiveness. I think the road angel performed slightly better in these tests . . . anybody know ?

S.

I saw you performing this test and decided not to get too close as it looked like a tender moment.

 

[sym]

I saw you performing this test and decided not to get too close as it looked like a tender moment.

Well - based on the small keyring sized device that he was using, the snooper is definitely not very good at laser detection with its built in sensors. He didn't get round to trying it with the full size laser "hairdryer" though, so perhaps that would have given different results. Hope I never have to find out for real !!!

S.

 

[Merc600SEC]

Roky mountain Radar make a scrambler- I have had one for three years no signal when the man points the gun at you, they also have a radar scram unit, but not sure about the price on the combined one.. Next time I am in the states will try to pick one up