We field test radar detectors and public safety products including radar and laser speed enforcement systems for publication. Speed Measurement Laboratories Inc.,(SML), does not sell the products it tests! Others do! SML demands radar and laser guns be operated by certified police officers. All participants are accompanied by police officers or SML staff reporting the results of products tested. SML tests retail samples of the same products to insure results are the same. We test this way to insure impartiality. All participants pay SML the same amount to have their products field evaluated. It gets expensive. This year’s budget was over $9,000.00.
          This past year saw two dramatic trends in speed enforcement: laser and automated enforcement. We know this as we teach at law enforcement agencies around the country NHTSA standard radar and laser certification classes. We also know this as we testify as an “expert witness” in courts nationally in speeding and “judicial notice” trails. Expert means expert. We must know what we are talking about to the courts. No, don’t ask us to testify if you got a speeding ticket. We won’t. Please don’t ask us which is the best radar detector. We don’t use one. The best source of information on automated enforcement, photo enforcement, can be found at www.thenewspaper.com. With dramatically increasing fuel costs, expect more automated enforcement as departments seek to save on costs. Automated enforcement gives such savings. Expect strong efforts to re-establish the national 55 mph speed limit. See www.speedinglimits.com for details on re-establishment of the national 55 mph limit.
          This year’s test June 27-29, July 11-12, July 25, looked at new technologies offered by detector makers to meet the new challenges from law enforcement. Specifically, Cobra and Escort added GPS to their detectors allowing drivers to be notified and mark the locations of red light intersections or other photo enforcement sites. Photo enforcement has now been expanded to highway work zones and school zones. GPS also eliminates of annoying radar false alerts from sources like automatic door openers, burglar alarms, and other sources. New cars from Chrysler, Infinity, Lexus, and Toyota use laser transmitters to warn drivers of an impending collision or to disengage the vehicle’s cruise control. Unfortunately, these new offerings produce laser false alerts that are not in a fixed position. Whistler now offers such laser false alert suppression called Laser Signature ID. More than 28,000 intersection traffic signals can now be changed by ambulances or fire apparatus speeding them to their destination. Cobra warns drivers of an approaching emergency vehicle with its Strobe Alert. New motor cycle radar detectors have been introduced. Click on red buttons above to find out more! Click on the manufacturer’s logo to go to their web site.
Contact us at speed@speedinglimits.com.