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FWIW, I think cops will react more negatively to a car slamming on its brakes rather then coasting or slowing down in a slower safer manner - even if there is no other traffic around. You just look guilty otherwise as well as the fact most of them hate it when people use radar detectors.
They do. I work with a lot of ex state troopers and cops and I've asked them about it. If you are speeding and they think or see you have a radar detector, it's instant ticket because in their mind you have an intent to speed and break the law. There is no warning and drive a little slower next time.
The other thing they look for is people "working traffic", switching lanes fast, passing on the right, tailgating and going well above the flow of traffic.
I had a detector briefly in high school, but chucked it out. For 20 years I have driven with no detector and have done 900,000 miles of driving. I've never gotten one ticket or citation for anything, knock on wood.
The principle I follow is situational awareness and driving to the conditions, the road and the traffic. I also mind my speed on residential streets or pedestrian areas.
Speaking as someone who has taught vehicle dynamics and driving skills for over 10 years, I get to observe a lot of driving behavior and I think where people get themselves in trouble is they lack that situational awareness and common sense, so they blaze on at 80 mph in all conditions, traffic, no matter the road, pounding down a latte, texting on the phone and not paying attention at all. And I really don't think an electronic gizmo is going to help that much, especially with laser and instant on radar, which travels much faster than your reflexes.
My strategy is (I travel interstate quite a bit, usually a few hundred miles):
The car is a 928, so the rake of the hood and windshield are steep. Also, I keep the headlights down.
First, the V1 is excellent. I got the remote indicator so the main unit does not light up.
Second, a radar-absorbing car bra. Actually, they are really simple. The first layer is 50% transparent to radar, and the second reflecting layer is spaced so that it that causes destructive interference for the chosen frequency (In this case, Ka-band).
Third, took off the front license plate (ok, in this state I know it is a no-no, but I leave it in the car and can say I am going to get a bracket to put it back on).
Fourth, laser diodes at 904 nm can effectively ruin the S/N ratio of a LIDAR system, and since light is not regulated by the FCC, a simple array of the diodes (which are cheap), and modulated with white noise works well.
Microwave jammers are a no-no, as they are FCC-regulated.
None of these techniques will make you truly invisible, but the goal is just to be less visible than the other guy on the road.
Used to go from Boston to Rochester NY, and could do it in 4 hours (392 miles).
Nothing is going to save you, however, regardless of technology, when a police officer sees you going down the road at about 100 mph over the speed limit. Also, clueless drivers invoke a lot of fear (the little old guy, on a 2-lane divided highway, in the left lane.... who only looks in the rear view mirror every 5 minutes.... first, you are a dot in the distance, then, in about 30 seconds you are riding up on him, really fast. You don't dare pass him in the right lane, for if he moves over, everyone is toast, so your speed tends to be cyclical.
The V1 tells you when you pick up a cheap radar detector that is emitting radar. It shows a J on the display (for "junky" radar detector).
Most of the time you can tell the difference between a door opener and a police radar hit. The door openers are weaker and the signal tends to fluctuate and jump around in direction. It takes some getting used to. Sometimes you can turn the sensativity way down, and it will not alert on doors. Door openers also come from the side. Policemen do not hit you with radar form the side, becasue there is no point. You might pick one up shooting a car on a cross street, but you really do not need to worry about them unless you are turning onto that street, or you are visibly speeding and they may see you and chase.
Generally, if you are driving in an area with loads of stores etcetera, you really should not be driving fast anyway, it is soo risky. False alarms are rare on wide open roads and freeways which is the only place I generally drive over the speed limit anyway.
Radar detectors are almost useless in Southern California. There are just too many radar signals everywhere. Probably true in other very crowded places as well. Supposedly the CHP does not use radar guns, but that is not entirely true. I have picked some of them up using radar in outlying areas.
I am amazed that someone regularly drives @ 165 - 170 (100 Mph over mentioned above). That is a deathwish. OUr roads are not set up to allow that kind of speed. A pot hole, mechanical failure, stalled car (or even a slow car), a gust of wind, uneven pavement, a cat or dog or deer (or cow), just about anything other than perfect conditions and you are dead. No possibility of any other result. The sad thing is that you will not only kill yourself, you will probably take somone's daddy or mom or a little kid along with you. I hope you lose your license before that happens.
The V1 tells you when you pick up a cheap radar detector that is emitting radar. It shows a J on the display (for "junky" radar detector).
Huh. The really crappy radar detectors (like the old Radio Shack ones) without a suppressed local oscillator (LO) may set off junky radar detectors (Remember when they put two RS detectors side-by-side, and they set each other off? ). You WANT a detector with suppressed LO, as then others (such as the PD) don't know you have a detector, i.e. a radar detector-detector.
I have never had a false alarm with the V1, other than some times being close to a bank.
Most of the time you can tell the difference between a door opener and a police radar hit. The door openers are weaker and the signal tends to fluctuate and jump around in direction. It takes some getting used to. Sometimes you can turn the sensativity way down, and it will not alert on doors. Door openers also come from the side. Policemen do not hit you with radar form the side, becasue there is no point.
Doppler theory.. you learn that in about 10th grade.
You might pick one up shooting a car on a cross street, but you really do not need to worry about them unless you are turning onto that street, or you are visibly speeding and they may see you and chase.
Generally, if you are driving in an area with loads of stores etcetera, you really should not be driving fast anyway, it is soo risky. False alarms are rare on wide open roads and freeways which is the only place I generally drive over the speed limit anyway.
So you admit that you speed, as well. I hope you don't, as you state, "take someone's daddy or mom or a little kid along with you. " Such hypocrisy.
Radar detectors are almost useless in Southern California. There are just too many radar signals everywhere. Probably true in other very crowded places as well. Supposedly the CHP does not use radar guns, but that is not entirely true. I have picked some of them up using radar in outlying areas.
Reason #2097 why to not live in CA.
I am amazed that someone regularly drives @ 165 - 170 (100 Mph over mentioned above). That is a deathwish. OUr roads are not set up to allow that kind of speed. A pot hole, mechanical failure, stalled car (or even a slow car), a gust of wind, uneven pavement, a cat or dog or deer (or cow), just about anything other than perfect conditions and you are dead.
I guess you haven't been to way-upstate NY, Wyoming, Montana, Kansas, or a few private highways, etc.
In NY, once you get west of Schenectady, it is a long, straight open road, few exits, and nothing around. The roads are phenomenal. The car is 4" off the ground, so forget wind, and at WOT it doesn't go into 4th until 135.
The likelihood of survivng a crash at 75 mph into an immovable object is actually really poor (I saw enough of them come into the ED). So anything above that isn't really relevant.
No possibility of any other result. The sad thing is that you will not only kill yourself, you will probably take somone's daddy or mom or a little kid along with you. I hope you lose your license before that happens.
I have no intention of losing my life. I actually value mine more than yours or that of almost anyone else. Haven't gotten a speeding ticket in 20 years (knock on wood), and the ones I did get were all 'dismissed'. (It all depends on who you know). It is just as easy to kill someone going 35 mph as at any other speed. Cars are dangerous. Live with it.
Won't ever lose my license... I don't have to drive anymore, as it is done for me.
"is just as easy to kill someone going 35 mph as at any other speed.
This is simply untrue. You are deluding yourself.
at 80 you can usually recover from hitting a pothole, uneven pavement, and you will often survive a deer or dog. You can come up on someone going 45 and have time to avoid them. You can slow to 60 of even 40 fairly quickly. You can swerve if necessary without losing control of your car. If you do lose control, you can steer into a wall or a tree or water and you will usually stop and not cross ovr into oncoming traffic. At 110, most of these things are not possible. At 165 none of these things are true. It will take you four times as long to slow to 40 as it does from 80. In a panic stop, at 165 the liklihood of mechanical failure is extreme.
It is the seemingly empty roads that are the most dangerous. That is where people let their guard down and race along without paying caereful attention to every detail. That is where you most encounter animals on the road, a broken car, a surprise pothole, log, truck tire, etc. that no one has picked up becuase the road is empty. Those stretches of road are where people die the most IME. My expereince with this is limited to engagement by construciton companies when someone dies on or near their project, but the deaths are almost always in wide open areas with little or no traffic. About half the time, the idiot travelling at well over 100 takes someone with them. Frequently they rear end a slower moving vehicle (especially red cars at disk or dawn).
100 MPH plus is for drving on a track, alone or after training and with other drivers who understand and accept the risks od participating at that speed. Driving that speed on roads designed for 60-80 MPH traffic with all kinds of issues occurring, is self centered and criminal.
I am glad that you no longer drive. Our school busses on field trips are safer now.
Have had an Escort 8500 X50 for years, having a high end detector is def worth it, it has saved me many times. But I have also gotten hit once, instant on by a cop sitting at the crest of a hill on the turnpike. I was late for a tour at the Yuengling brewery and had cruise set at 95. 95 in a 65 didn't feel too good... but it saved me from quite a few so I guess I owed them that one.
"is just as easy to kill someone going 35 mph as at any other speed.
This is simply untrue. You are deluding yourself.
Then walk out in front of me, between two parked cars, downtown, when I am 20 feet from you, going 35 (the speed limit), and let's see what happens. Hope you are in good shape, to mend quickly (if at all).
at 80 you can usually recover from hitting a pothole, uneven pavement, and you will often survive a deer or dog. You can come up on someone going 45 and have time to avoid them. You can slow to 60 of even 40 fairly quickly. You can swerve if necessary without losing control of your car. If you do lose control, you can steer into a wall or a tree or water and you will usually stop and not cross ovr into oncoming traffic. At 110, most of these things are not possible. At 165 none of these things are true. It will take you four times as long to slow to 40 as it does from 80. In a panic stop, at 165 the liklihood of mechanical failure is extreme.
I guess having visiblity for up to close to a mile doesn't matter. My only concern was for loose cows.
Not sure about the 'likelihood of mechanical failure'. Could you provide some reference to a legitimate link?
Though the technology on this car is starting to get a little dated, it has stood up to everything the manufacturer stated.
It is the seemingly empty roads that are the most dangerous. That is where people let their guard down and race along without paying caereful attention to every detail.
Let's rephrase that as 'where some people let their guard down'. My level of guard is directly proportional to how fast I am going, wherever I am. Always.
That is where you most encounter animals on the road, a broken car, a surprise pothole, log, truck tire, etc. that no one has picked up becuase the road is empty. Those stretches of road are where people die the most IME. My expereince with this is limited to engagement by construciton companies when someone dies on or near their project, but the deaths are almost always in wide open areas with little or no traffic. About half the time, the idiot travelling at well over 100 takes someone with them. Frequently they rear end a slower moving vehicle (especially red cars at disk or dawn).
100 MPH plus is for drving on a track, alone or after training and with other drivers who understand and accept the risks od participating at that speed. Driving that speed on roads designed for 60-80 MPH traffic with all kinds of issues occurring, is self centered and criminal.
I guess all those hours I spent at Lime Rock were a waste of time and money.
Since you admitted you speed, then we are both self-centered and criminal. Welcome to the club!
I am glad that you no longer drive. Our school busses on field trips are safer now.
Never saw a school bus out in East Stumpwater or South Pondscum or the other places I cruise through...
To answer the OP's initial question... YES! Love my V1 and won't drive without it.
I don't usually speed intentionally either. What's great is it keeps me honest. When the beeps go off I'm more aware of my speed so it keeps me in check. As to the V1 specifically, the arrows and multiple warnings from multiple directions is just phenomenal. I got mine back in 2002 and knock on wood I haven't had a ticket since. It's saved my hide and payed for itself several times over.
And not jaywalk, or tear the labels off of mattresses, or text on a cell phone while driving, or scream underwater (that one is illegal in NY), or shooting ranges that cannot have targets that look like humans (MA), or children may smoke, but they may not purchase cigarettes (MA), or it is considered an offense to check into a hotel under an assumed name. (NH), or It is illegal to pick seaweed up off of the beach.(NH), or in New York, adultery is still a crime (Class B misdemeanor, $500 fine), or you may only throw a frisbee at the beach in Los Angeles County, CA with the lifeguard’s permission, or bathhouses are against the law (CA), or finally, it is against town ordinances to camp out on your own land more than 72 hours a month. If you want to camp out for 2 weeks you need a permit, which can only be obtained once a year (NY).
I could go on for hours. People need to realize that we live in reality, and we live with other people, and while your advice is noted, I would wager that few people have or will follow it.
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I hope you lose your license before that happens.
). You WANT a detector with suppressed LO, as then others (such as the PD) don't know you have a detector, i.e. a radar detector-detector.
