Radar detectors.
Members
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Eastern WA
I've been using an Escort 8500 x 50 for the last... 6 years? It hasn't let me down, except when I was stupid.
It does not detect laser in any way to enable you to slow down in time. If the laser detector goes off, it was you that got pinged, not some other vehicle. You have to learn to scan for stationary cops, where they like to hide, and the behavior of the traffic down the road in front of you to see if there is a LEO posted in a speed trap.
With radar, it helps tremendously in 'meeting engagements' where either he was stationary on the side of the road with other people pulled over, or coming the other way with his radar on. But be warned, you need other vehicles on the road in front of you... I can detect a cop miles down the road if he's using his radar.....
But if you're the only car on the road, he's going to see you coming and hit you with the instant on and he's got you. This happened to me on my last ticket... it was late at night, I was the only car on the road and he saw me coming. In those situations where you have uncertainty, just set your CC and go the limit or slightly over (say no more than +5 MPH) You need to know what the local, county and state LEOs tend to do as well. At +5 MPH on the highway here they ususally won't give you a second glance. Sometimes though they have speed enforcement emphasis patrols and will pull you over for going +1 MPH (I kid you not). I know of jurisdictions in my state where they will pull you over for going the limit just because, then lie on the ticket and say you were going 5 over... revenue for them.
Bottom line, it is a usefull tool, but you have to understand its limitations. In 95% of the time you're best bet is to set your CC and go with the flow.
It does not detect laser in any way to enable you to slow down in time. If the laser detector goes off, it was you that got pinged, not some other vehicle. You have to learn to scan for stationary cops, where they like to hide, and the behavior of the traffic down the road in front of you to see if there is a LEO posted in a speed trap.
With radar, it helps tremendously in 'meeting engagements' where either he was stationary on the side of the road with other people pulled over, or coming the other way with his radar on. But be warned, you need other vehicles on the road in front of you... I can detect a cop miles down the road if he's using his radar.....
But if you're the only car on the road, he's going to see you coming and hit you with the instant on and he's got you. This happened to me on my last ticket... it was late at night, I was the only car on the road and he saw me coming. In those situations where you have uncertainty, just set your CC and go the limit or slightly over (say no more than +5 MPH) You need to know what the local, county and state LEOs tend to do as well. At +5 MPH on the highway here they ususally won't give you a second glance. Sometimes though they have speed enforcement emphasis patrols and will pull you over for going +1 MPH (I kid you not). I know of jurisdictions in my state where they will pull you over for going the limit just because, then lie on the ticket and say you were going 5 over... revenue for them.
Bottom line, it is a usefull tool, but you have to understand its limitations. In 95% of the time you're best bet is to set your CC and go with the flow.
Contributors
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 944
Likes: 1
From: Sterling, Virginia
My Ride: Bmw
Model Year: 2006
I used to speed too, until I realized that all I was doing was burning thru my tank of gas, risking a hefty fine and the time saving was not even worth it. Use this to calculate;
http://www.easywebcalculators.com/speeding.htm
Speeding will only save you significant time if you're going a long distance (300 miles or more) and doing about 15+ over the limit. For short distances, you're saving only minutes! But for that time savings, you get to spend more on gas. So unless you really have a deadline to reach or some emergency, it's not worth it. Put on the CC, put your favorite tunes on and smile at the cops when you pass by and shake your head at all the people you see pulled over during your trip.
A radar detector only gives a false sense of security and at times makes you drive faster because you think all is clear. What happens when an unmarked car just flat out paces behind you? BUSTED
I do think however that the speed limit in some areas are ridiculously low in some areas, but that's another debate. I was once on a three lane highway where the speed limit was 40 and I slowed down to 40 just to see how it feels and I felt like my car was disabled as EVERYONE passed me doing about 60-65. Any one of us could have been pulled for speeding even at a relatively slow 50mph with no excuse to give.
http://www.easywebcalculators.com/speeding.htm
Speeding will only save you significant time if you're going a long distance (300 miles or more) and doing about 15+ over the limit. For short distances, you're saving only minutes! But for that time savings, you get to spend more on gas. So unless you really have a deadline to reach or some emergency, it's not worth it. Put on the CC, put your favorite tunes on and smile at the cops when you pass by and shake your head at all the people you see pulled over during your trip.
A radar detector only gives a false sense of security and at times makes you drive faster because you think all is clear. What happens when an unmarked car just flat out paces behind you? BUSTED
I do think however that the speed limit in some areas are ridiculously low in some areas, but that's another debate. I was once on a three lane highway where the speed limit was 40 and I slowed down to 40 just to see how it feels and I felt like my car was disabled as EVERYONE passed me doing about 60-65. Any one of us could have been pulled for speeding even at a relatively slow 50mph with no excuse to give.
speeding doesnt get you anywhere tremendously before someone who is driving the speed limit but you should understand a few things here. Its not about speeding its about crossing the barrier of the speed limit. Hand up high, swear and tell me, when is the last time you did not exceed the speed limit by even 1 mile. Yes 1 mile.
That is speeding my friend, driving above the posted speed limit in no matter what situation is Speeding and every one has done that.
Radar detectors give false sense of security -- Yes and No
Yes for the cheapo ones and No for the 9500ci, try it to believe it !
An unmarked car cannot give me a ticked unless they tap my accurate speed atleast in the state I live in or I can contest in the court of law and win. However I see your point.
Also,
2 kind of drivers cause accidents on freeways, one who drive 2 fast and one who drive 2 slow and here the fast and slow are determined by the flow of traffic.
So I guess if your going the posted speed limit of 40 and everyone is flowing at 60, people get aggravated with you when they get behind you and swerve around you causing more chance of accidents. I dont know if you want to do that and get people to curse you while you drive the speed limit.
The bottom line is better safe than sorry both while driving casualy or avoiding getting caught for driving faster.
Yes,
I dont speed anymore, atleast when I swing by the LEO's.
Senior Members
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 677
Likes: 0
From: NYC
My Ride: 2008 550i SA M-Sport Package
hmmm I think you have a good point here,
speeding doesnt get you anywhere tremendously before someone who is driving the speed limit but you should understand a few things here. Its not about speeding its about crossing the barrier of the speed limit. Hand up high, swear and tell me, when is the last time you did not exceed the speed limit by even 1 mile. Yes 1 mile.
That is speeding my friend, driving above the posted speed limit in no matter what situation is Speeding and every one has done that.
Radar detectors give false sense of security -- Yes and No
Yes for the cheapo ones and No for the 9500ci, try it to believe it !
An unmarked car cannot give me a ticked unless they tap my accurate speed atleast in the state I live in or I can contest in the court of law and win. However I see your point.
Also,
2 kind of drivers cause accidents on freeways, one who drive 2 fast and one who drive 2 slow and here the fast and slow are determined by the flow of traffic.
So I guess if your going the posted speed limit of 40 and everyone is flowing at 60, people get aggravated with you when they get behind you and swerve around you causing more chance of accidents. I dont know if you want to do that and get people to curse you while you drive the speed limit.
The bottom line is better safe than sorry both while driving casualy or avoiding getting caught for driving faster.
Yes,
I dont speed anymore, atleast when I swing by the LEO's.
If a radar detector fell into my lap, I'd use it, I'd just never buy one because if I get one ticket, it failed IMO. And I'd prolly get a ticket going faster than I would w/o one thinking I have an edge.
http://www.bendover.com/gmtquestion....=5&fldAuto=304
I've gotten my share of tickets as a result of police officers' using laser guns to detect my speed. A word to the wise: If you own a laser detector (most detectors sold today are "combination" units that detect both radar and laser) and the "laser portion" of your detector goes off? Take my advice...slow down, and get out your drivers license and insurance card, because you're dead meat. They've got you. It doesn't matter how quick or how hard you jam on your brakes--it's over. Get ready to put on a good face for the police officer you're about to be visited by.
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