How to Effectively Use a Radar Detector

How to Effectively Use a Radar Detector


The Ambush


The ambush frequently happens after you receive a weak signal and ignore it as a false alert. This alert can be an indication of the following:

  • All police radar guns are directional, meaning they send the signal in the direction the gun is pointed. As you approach an officer’s location the police radar gun maybe pointing in the opposite direction, thus a weak signal on your radar detector. As you approach, it is re-targeted toward your location.
  • The law enforcement officer is further down the road, using his instant-on radar gun or POP radar.
  • When an officer uses instant-on or the new POP mode radar guns, he has the able to clock your speed in a second or less. As soon as he obtains your speed his radar detector goes into standby to avoid alerting other approaching drivers with radar detectors.
  • Another law enforcement trick is to do radar enforcement in locations known for false alerts. Regular travelers of this route start ignoring the usual alert that they receive when in this area. To avoid this trap, consider a detector that has the ability to detect multiple threats

Because of this I recommend a formula to determine if the range of your radar detector is adequate to avoid an ambush is “Capture Area x 7″.

This formula is allows you to detect the police in enough time to safely slow down and to observe the events taking place around you, to then determine the reason for the alert.

New Jersey Superior Court Judge Reginald Stanton’s ruling which stated that an officer should not target vehicles further then 1000′ could be used as a baseline.

However very few officers know anything about this ruling and his findings hold no merit outside of the state of New Jersey, therefore police officers often start obtaining a vehicle tracking history the moment that they observe your vehicle.

Under normal circumstances, the longest range an officer can lock on and make any type of target vehicle identification on a flat roadway using radar is approximately 1/4 of a mile.

Therefore using my “Capture area x 7” formula, you would want to have a detector that has at least, 1.5 miles of detection.

However, there are also some variables in where police speed enforcement is used, such as hills and curves.
Therefore, if you live or drive in an area that has a lot of curvy, mountainous roads, you would want to increase your capture area to at least a four mile distance.

During my testing the Escort Max is the long-range king, detecting K and Ka band signals at a distance of over 10.8 miles away.

Therefore, when your radar detector goes off, make sure that you are traveling at the legal speed limit and are obeying all other traffic rules; until you are SURE the threat has ended.

React Immediately


Each millisecond an officer is off obtaining a tracking history report means miles per hour taken off your speed if you react in time.
Even if the effort seems fruitless, apply your brakes immediately upon being warned by your radar detector.
Remember, police radars are machines and don’t ALWAYS work correctly.
For common errors radar and laser guns and their operators make consider downloading my 78-page Radar Detector Buyers Guide E-Book which I offer as my free gift to those who visit my website.
If you apply your brakes immediately, you could beat an officer to the punch, even if he is using instant-on radar.
Warning: Always be alert of road conditions when applying your brakes, especially when driving in inclement weather, on roads with potholes and/or when other vehicles are close behind.