Are radar detectors worth it?

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: road_rascal
I quit using detectors. Most of the speed enforcement around my area has gone to laser guns. If you want to open it up, have a 'rabbit' in front of you. A few of the guys I ride with have the $$$ detectors and have them hidden on their bikes, and while they will work for the occasional officer who like to keep the gun on all the times, the instant on will most likely get you out in the middle of nowhere. Just my $.02


Only if you're the only one on the road. I've had a number of valid laser saves with my worth-its-weight-in-gold V1. Yes, instant-on is dangerous, but as long as they're lighting up others before you get to the kill zone, you still get warning, albeit intermittent.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
...but others here are right, if the officer uses instant-on laser, they got you no matter what and no detector will protect you from it.


Again, as I noted above, this is just not true. So long as you apply correct tactics, as in cut speed when there's no one else out there ahead of you, you'll usually get a good I/O warning from the officers lighting up those ahead of you.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
I will probably get blasted for this, but in my opinion they are a total waste of time and money. Set the cruise 5 miles above the speed limit and carry on. If your driving fast enough to need a radar detector, you deserve a ticket.

Sorry.


This would make sense, if we could rely upon lawmakers, particularly of the local municipal variety, to set speed limits that actually made sense given the road and the normal conditions. Instead, very frequently, speed limits are set for one purpose, and one purpose only -- the generation of revenue. As far as I'm concerned, if they want to play these sort of arbitrary games with the populace, it's only fair that we use whatever devices we can to alert ourselves to the presence of this bad-faith, gotcha law enforcement. I live in the southern US, and I use a V1 at virtually all times. I can't tell you how many small towns have four-lane, divided highways leading into town, with speed limits that drop to an absurd 35 mph two miles before you get to anything, even a remote cross-road, that might actually merit a severe reduction in travel speed. They want to play this game with me, I have no problem at all playing it back with them.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
I will probably get blasted for this, but in my opinion they are a total waste of time and money. Set the cruise 5 miles above the speed limit and carry on. If your driving fast enough to need a radar detector, you deserve a ticket.

Sorry.


Amen...

Slow down.

Originally Posted By: benjamming
Some of the rural towns around here set drastically low speed limits for speed traps well before you get into "town". This is where I get the most use out of my V1. Going 55 mph in a 35 mph on a 4-lane highway 3 miles from any residences or businesses doesn't mean I deserve a ticket. It means the town is greedy.



No it means that the town wants you to slow down. They may have had a problem with cars trying to get out into the traffic but it is difficult with cars going down their main street @ 55mph (which means 60-70mph)

Take care, bill

PS: I've been driving for a long time. I also drive more miles than most (both at work and commute) and have NEVER had a speeding ticket.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: JonnyHotcakes
I'm 24 and I agree with you guys.

If you're speeding and you hit one of my family members, God help you.


So if Joe Blow is doing the speed limit, whatever it is, and he wipes out your family, you'll be just fine with that??????????

But what if he's two over the limit, or five, or whatever?

If reckless behavior, in whatever form it takes (cell phone dialing, makeup application, alcohol consumption, whatever) causes such a tragedy, I'm right with you. OTOH, if you happen to be a couple mph over the revenue-driven speed limit, can you be sure it would make a difference either way?

 

[XS650]

Bill, your blind faith in the integrity and competence of "the authorities" is touching

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Originally Posted By: Johnny
I will probably get blasted for this, but in my opinion they are a total waste of time and money. Set the cruise 5 miles above the speed limit and carry on. If your driving fast enough to need a radar detector, you deserve a ticket.

Sorry.


Amen...

Slow down.

Originally Posted By: benjamming
Some of the rural towns around here set drastically low speed limits for speed traps well before you get into "town". This is where I get the most use out of my V1. Going 55 mph in a 35 mph on a 4-lane highway 3 miles from any residences or businesses doesn't mean I deserve a ticket. It means the town is greedy.



No it means that the town wants you to slow down. They may have had a problem with cars trying to get out into the traffic but it is difficult with cars going down their main street @ 55mph (which means 60-70mph)

Take care, bill

PS: I've been driving for a long time. I also drive more miles than most (both at work and commute) and have NEVER had a speeding ticket.


Bill, a reasonable, scaled slow-down before you reach town makes perfect sense. Screeching to a near-halt miles before there's any reason to do so does not. It's to make money -- nothing else.

 

[parimento1]

Arguably most speed enforcement is for revenue generation. Why else would the SAME highway going from one state to another have speed limits that differ by as much as 20 mph in some areas. Also, why is it very easy to plea bargain that you can pay more upfront in exchange for no license points? Because the municipalities need the money! I do not agree with speeding through towns as you can kill someone crossing the street or on a bike, etc. But on the highway if you are doing 80 in a 65...WHO CARES. Also, cruise control, especially where I live is useless, because of the congestion. I have a radar detector that I use any time I take long highway trips. It has given me very good advanced warning, sometimes 10 secs or more, which is plenty of time to slow down. Obviously the best way to avoid a ticket is to obey the speed limit, but even if everyone did, they would pull you over for something else: failure to signal, reckless driving, driving too slow, or anything else they can think of. In the end I believe tickets to be part of our taxes.

 

[ekpolk]

Let's bring this to a summary. To answer the question, YES, they are worth the expense, particularly if you know how to use them. They're not a magic, "Romulan Cloaking Device." But if you observe the warnings, and apply them in the context of your driving conditions, these devices are worth their weight in gold. My V1 has saved me untold thousands of dollars in citations ungiven, insurance premiums unjacked, etc. I love mine, and I'd buy another today if someone stole mine.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk

This would make sense, if we could rely upon lawmakers, particularly of the local municipal variety, to set speed limits that actually made sense given the road and the normal conditions. Instead, very frequently, speed limits are set for one purpose, and one purpose only -- the generation of revenue. As far as I'm concerned, if they want to play these sort of arbitrary games with the populace . . . ,

I can't tell you how many small towns have four-lane, divided highways leading into town, with speed limits that drop to an absurd 35 mph two miles before you get to anything, even a remote cross-road, that might actually merit a severe reduction in travel speed. They want to play this game with me, I have no problem at all playing it back with them.


I have to agree with Johnny and Bill. If you aren't speeding you don't need a radar detector. Personally I think it's a matter of growing up and maturity. As the old saying goes "Some people grow up, others just grow older"

I didn't know driving was "playing a game" as Elkpolk so eloquently put it. I have driven many tens of thousands of miles all across the U.S. I've been in more small towns than I care to remember. NEVER had a problem once.

 

[dwendt44]

Every state has dozens of 'speed trap' areas.
There's even 'speed trap' web sites so you can find them before passing through those areas.
Poorly placed limit signs, overly long approches, all but hidden signs, tight enforcement, and other 'fudge' factors generate many dollars for the city, village, or county.
If a large portion of the municiple budget is derived from speed enforcement, you are looking at a 'speed trap'.

 

[d00df00d]

I'm wondering at what point the OP asked for a collection of lectures on driving habits. Could someone point it out to me?

 

[kraked]

depends on your local pd's arsenault and laws, imo
I luv my detector, but the local pd keeps buying more lidar guns, which means i'm bringing a knife to a gun fight at times.
Escort 9500ci is the blinger these days...gps,laser jammer,.... I'd have one for sure if the laws allowed me to.Every area has different laws and habits.Here's sum info
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
I'm wondering at what point the OP asked for a collection of lectures on driving habits. Could someone point it out to me?


I don't think anyone gave a "lecture". We are merely pointing out the obvious point of - if you don't go over the speed limit you don't need a radar detector.

If you or the OP or anyone else wants to risk their insurance rates, driver's license, life and property by speeding - then that is their business. We are simply offering our opinions.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: XS650
Bill, your blind faith in the integrity and competence of "the authorities" is touching

Trust me. I am so ticked off at police, local courts and insurance companies that I may have a new hobby.

My wife 1 year ago TODAY was hit by a semi truck. Did $13k damage to our new 8 month old Subaru. The semi was making a ILLEGAL right turn.

Who got the ticket? My wife. Who got charged for the accident? My wife.

Went to court. Tough. The "officer" was correct per the judge in issuing the ticket and finding fault. (even though the Semi was in the WRONG lane and I had photos proving it)

Never mind I took the same brand, model and 48 ft trailer and made the right turn in the CORRECT lane and took photos of the CORRECT WAY to MAKE A TURN. Tough. Judge said guilty and that was all there was. (I have access to semi trucks and have a class A license with all the tags)

So, wife has NEVER been in a accident in driving 30 years. Never had a ticket. She now is a high risk so we pay $200 more per 6 months due to the IDIOT cop and judge (who retired 2 months later).

Trust me, even though I work with police every min while I'm at work, I have love for some and hate for others.

But, if you think a radar detector is the responsible way to get around... I guess you do.

But for me, I'll just drive the speed limit and not worry. If you get a IDIOT cop, he is going to write you up and a radar detector is not going to help you. (if that is the reason for getting one (because there are bad cops)

Originally Posted By: ekpolk

Bill, a reasonable, scaled slow-down before you reach town makes perfect sense. Screeching to a near-halt miles before there's any reason to do so does not. It's to make money -- nothing else.


Agree. I've been around the USA and most of the time there is one. (they have speed limit ahead signs well ahead of the reduced speed)


Take care, Bill

PS: I'm not bitter about my wife's accident.

(I do see the IDIOT cop around town here and there and remind him of his NOT KNOWING the law. (I don't think I'm going to get a Christmas card from him.. EVER)

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
I'm wondering at what point the OP asked for a collection of lectures on driving habits. Could someone point it out to me?


If the OP didn't want opinions, he wouldn't have posted here. This is an Internet "discussion" board.

 

[XS650]

Quote:
If you get a IDIOT cop, he is going to write you up and a radar detector is not going to help you. (if that is the reason for getting one (because there are bad cops)


Following that line of logic, there is no point is wearing a seat belt, having airbags, wearing body armor in combat zones etc, because none of those will save you every time.

 

[ekpolk]

Bill:

On one hand, you are plainly aware of the presence of idiot cops, and their willingness to act unfairly and arbitrarily. But then you advocate "going passive" and just letting them do their thing? FYI, I hardly run around at warp 9 in residential neighborhoods. I'm rarely more than ten over a limit, and never in sensitive settings. A detector is, as I noted above, not a Romulan cloaking device. Used with care, it allows the driver to maximize situational awareness, and minimize the chances of contact with one of the cops you described.

Oldman:

Let's be real now, I think we know what I meant through my use of the term "game". Obviously, driving a car is serious business. I was referring, of course, to the manner in which law enforcement use the guise of traffic safety enforcement as nothing more than a system for collecting revenue. Would you suggest that issuing an expensive citation for doing 2-3 mph over the limit is essential for the preservation of safety?

I'm sorry, but I'll have some more respect for the "system" when it starts to show us, the people it's supposed to serve, a tad bit of respect.

 

[XS650]

Sounds like I run about the same speeds as you do. One thing having a V1 has done for me is make me more aware of just how many police radar units there are out there.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Recently, the police in our community (pop. 8000) relocated a 45mph sign two weeks ago smack dab in the middle point on the downhill side of an 8% grade. The speed goes from 55 at the start of the hill to 45 suddenly in the middle of the grade. I still don't believe in radars, but what I detailed is an obvious money grab plain and simple.