Has blind spot monitoring made radar detectors ineffective?

S

Snagglefoot

Joined
Dec 31, 2017
Messages
15,363
Location
SE British Columbia, Canada
I was surprised to read that radar detectors are apparently legal in 49 states. I have a Escort radar detector that dates back to 2015. Over the years I noticed an increasing number of false alarms caused by blind spot monitoring (BSM). I believe it’s something that manufacturers of radar detectors are trying to solve. Apparently BSM setups use K band to detect adjacent vehicles and warn the driver. Has anyone seen any detectors that have solved the issue? PS, I know a lot of Bitogers already drive well beyond the speed limit so let’s try avoid discussing ethics here. Thanks. ;)
 
I sent my V1 in for upgrades about 3 years ago. Problem solved. The thing works as well as it ever did, rarely do I get an alert from the safety systems on other cars. I do like the mechanical volume and mute knob, and mechanical mute volume selector. Makes for easy use, tap to mute, then set the mute volume where you need it. (yes sometimes I like to hear the muted signal to remind me that I'm being followed, and sometimes I want it fully muted)

I drive many fast miles per year, and the V1 continues to be a great companion. It's about as perfect a radar detector as is possible. Saved my butt twice in one day last week.

I also use Waze, which is a great help, but is pretty useless on back roads, and utterly useless with mobile radar, such as an oncoming or following radar source.

I have not tried the new V1, gen 2.0. I just don't see the need.

v1_front.jpg


V1Gen2c.png
 
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Most modern radar detectors have filtering for common ADAS-related alerts. It works... but not really well.

ADAS radar devices traditionally operate in the same K band as many speed radars (24 GHz) but that is changing. Newer ADAS hardware is moving farther up to into the 76 GHz range. It will still be an issue since there'll be a decades worth of vehicles out there with older hardware but it will be less of an issue going forward.
 
I haven't been a cop in 15 years but when I was I stopped people on a daily basis that had radar detectors. The secret to it was to have it on instant on. Then only activate it on cars that you had a visual speed estimation that they were going much faster than the posted speed limit.
Speeder.jpg

Yes this guy had a radar detector.
 
Where I live the leos mostly use Lider/Laser (over 95% of the time), consequently Radar/Laser detectors will go-off to alert you that you just got a ticket. After being a trusted companion in my vehicles for decades, I stopped using my detector several years ago.
 
You can have the fanciest RD made. If Mr./Mrs. LEO hits you with a Laser, your goose is cooked. Now X, K, and KA, you stand a chance. I don't speed but I still have a very nice Cobra RD. It's fun to see where they're hiding while obeying the speed limit.
I live in a very small town (actually it's a village-population 300+/-). There are other villages around me as well. When my RD picks up a LEO radar, I mute my RD as I'm riding by him/her. If their looks could kill, I would have been a gone pecan by now.
 
Radar detectors are still legal in NYS....

Radar detectors and laser detectors​

Are radar detectors or laser detectors legal to use in NYS?

According to Section 397-a of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, a radar detector or a laser detector is prohibited:
  • in any motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 18,000 pounds
  • in any commercial motor vehicle with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds
The law does not prohibit detectors in other motor vehicles.
Traffic authorities can consider a detector that is located in a vehicle and which operates correctly to be evidence that the detector was in use.
If you break this law, you can receive a fine and a mandatory surcharge.
Click on the link shown below to open and read the complete text of Section 397-a.
Attachments

Virginia is currently the only U.S. state where radar detectors are illegal to use. The District of Columbia does not allow radar detectors either. Additionally, radar detectors are prohibited in all commercial vehicles and all vehicles 18,000 pounds or heavier.

If your in a big rig, your illegal in every state..
 
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The updated Valentine 1 filters the BSM signal out. It works pretty well. I have one. The new Valentine detector should be even better.

I don't use it much - here's why: avoiding a ticket at high speed (I admit to nothing here, this is hypothetical, of course) is more than just a detector. My V1 will alert me of an instant on being used up ahead, but that detector alone isn't nearly enough, not when the cops have LIDAR, or when there is no other traffic on which the cop is using the Radar.

Avoiding being caught is more of a "first sight, win the fight" thing. If the cop sees the speeder first, the cop wins. If the speeder is on full alert, aware of potential hiding places, observing traffic (in particular, brake lights) well ahead, paying attention to the detector, and everything else needed to be first to spot the LEO and change speed before the LEO can get a valid reading, then the speeder will likely be OK.

But that kind of driving is exhausting. Fighter pilot with a fast car vs. cop. Knowing the threat, hiding places, etc. and paying full attention. Recently, during a wee hours of the morning return from Dulles Airport, after picking up my wife, I made a 4 1/2 hour trip in 2 hours, 45 minutes. The effortless power, and strong brakes, of the S600 were a great help, as was my V1. I've done it. Many times. Successfully.

But it's really hard work. And there is some risk that I will get caught.

I choose to spend most of my highway miles at 7-8 MPH over, cruise control engaged, SiriusXM playing, and a cup of coffee in hand. WAY lower stress than trying to shave off any significant time by going fast. The work level isn't worth the time savings. Often, traffic precludes any meaningful increase in cruising speed, anyway.

So, my V1 sits in a case. It's there if I want it, but rarely used any more.
 
The other reason to use a detector is ridiculously low low posted speeds. One may discuss the merits of going at high speeds, but how about just driving normally speeds like 65 MPH to 70 mph in a Canadian National Park (like between Canmore and Lake Louise Alberta). The highway is divided, has a 8 ft (or so) animal fence, with long sweeping turns and the speed limit is 55 mph. Not for me. As soon /as you are out of the park, the speed limit on the same quality highway jumps to 110 km/hr which is 68 mph.
 
The State of Wisconsin has six (6) Cessna 172 that are equipped for speed enforcement. They are used often all over the state.Got my buddy on a Honda 900 RR leaving Elkhart Lake rece track at a good clip. When the sign says ”speed enforced by aircraft” they aren’t kidding.
 
Here in California radar detectors are legal but if you get pulled over for speeding or another moving violation you are liable to also be cited for "obstructed vision" or some such phrase for having the device mounted to the inside of your windshield. If you have a stealth installation of some sort it's a different story.

I often travel across state highways that are two lanes with a 55 MPH speed limit. Traffic is often very light and it is difficult to stay below 70 MPH. However, those roads are heavily patrolled by the CHP. They like to hide in spots where you don't see them until it is too late and use the vehicle mounted radar systems. So I set my cruise control at 59 MPH and avoid a $425 ticket like the first time they got me.

The CHP will often station a motorcycle officer with a hand held radar gun along the freeway and nail drivers that are moving much faster than the rest of the traffic. On many stretches of freeway if you aren't going 80 MPH (in a 65 or 70 zone) you aren't keeping up with everyone else. But there is always someone who still wants to go faster. I let them be the rabbit.

I would spend some time on the Radar Detector Forum and see what other drivers in your State are saying. The types of detectors and types of radar and LIDAR that law enforcement agencies are using vary greatly as does the detectors ability to filter out false positives from BSM and other non-law enforcement radar signals.
 
Have not used a detector since I was a K40 dealer as part of my Radio Shack Franchised. That ended in 1995. Funny the K40 detector was one of the first things that sold during the going out of business sale. Usually I drive between -2 to +6 on the interstates depending on traffic. Nowadays I cruze and gawk at the scenery when conditions permits.
 
I don't bother with radar detectors. I just speed with the knowledge that it'll cost me a few hundred to pay my lawyer if I get caught.

That said, Troopers on I-95 in NC don't really bother hiding. They come out in force once every month or so and it's pretty obvious.
 
HankHill said:
Radar detectors are still legal in NYS....

Radar detectors and laser detectors​

Are radar detectors or laser detectors legal to use in NYS?

According to Section 397-a of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, a radar detector or a laser detector is prohibited:
  • in any motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 18,000 pounds
  • in any commercial motor vehicle with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds
The law does not prohibit detectors in other motor vehicles.
Traffic authorities can consider a detector that is located in a vehicle and which operates correctly to be evidence that the detector was in use.
If you break this law, you can receive a fine and a mandatory surcharge.
Click on the link shown below to open and read the complete text of Section 397-a.
Attachments

Virginia is currently the only U.S. state where radar detectors are illegal to use. The District of Columbia does not allow radar detectors either. Additionally, radar detectors are prohibited in all commercial vehicles and all vehicles 18,000 pounds or heavier.

If your in a big rig, your illegal in every state..
Click to expand...
That's why they make some undetectable models. I've got one because I used to live in Va.
 
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