Radars detectors legal?

[MaxB]

I have a colleague who owns his own business and was desperate to get his ACC premiums down (too many motor accidents) . I found out over Xmas that he had fitted radar detectors to his 3 company vehicles. Crappy portable units at first, then better plumbed in models. His employees did not have to use the RDs just drive with them in the car/ute. No accidents or tickets in 2 years. RD saving lives? Maybe, that and the threat that anyone caught speeding was not going to get their contract renewed.

I guess when RDs are banned, ACC are going to get some more money.

[madandy]

If the LTSA, Police & gummint got proactive & embraced RD technology they could slow a lot of people down where necessary, ie, 'black spots', accident sites, miscellaneous dangerous sites, urban areas and leaves us to the open roads a wee bit more.

[Nagash]

Well I use the GPS, very handy little device with voice directions nad all the rest, but it's all recorded the positions of all speed cameras on it and the nice little lady tells you when to slow down.

Unfortunately it obviously doesn't spot cop cameras but they're not really as subtle as they think, 2 years of riding and not a single ticket.

[slopster]

I read somewhere (which means I have no idea how true it is) that the users of radar detectors have a lower accident rate than non users.
Let's assume this is true for a moment and if so, it might be a useful statistic.

On the other hand it might also just mean that the sort of people who go out and buy detectors, are the sort of people who have less accidents anyway.

Bugger!

I bet RD users get more speeding tickets then the general population too.

[slopster]

It is easy to get caught when travelling outside known territory as speed signs can be missed. I didn't think a RD was worth having until I got pinged for 62k in what I thought was a 70kph area leading into a 50kph area. I was slowing at the 50kph sign and the first one (that I missed) was on the entry to a large roundabout at the end of 100kph motorway. The section between the roundabout and the built up area is over a bridge and probably should be zoned 70kph (so much for driving to the conditions). Locals probably don't get caught here as they will be aware of the speed zoning and will have seen cops there before.

You know that you cant get done withen 250m of a change of speed zone

[madandy]

I bet RD users get more speeding tickets then the general population too.

Only tickets I've ever had were when not using a RD.
My RD's have saved me many times their purchase prices and have never come close to failing me.
If your RD didn't/isn't paying for itself it's either a cheap POS or something's wrong...doesn't mean you can blast around a warp speed and expect sufficient warning to allow you to slow to legal speeds but they do make swift travel possible.

[scumdog]

You know that you cant get done withen 250m of a change of speed zone

'Can't' is a big word here, don't hang your life on it.

You CAN get 'done' - it's only a guideline to cops to go easy on those entering a lower speed area - not law.....I know that for a fact.

Oh, and if you're leaving a lower speed area the 250m isn't even in the guidlines at all, I know for a fact that too

Technically can still get done 1m on the wrong side of the change of speed zone.

[scumdog]

Only tickets I've ever had were when not using a RD.
My RD's have saved me many times their purchase prices and have never come close to failing me.
If your RD didn't/isn't paying for itself it's either a cheap POS or something's wrong...doesn't mean you can blast around a warp speed and expect sufficient warning to allow you to slow to legal speeds but they do make swift travel possible.

Have got heaps with RDs.

'Instant-on', undulating country etc and 'blingo' your pinged.
Sure, if I'm half asleep you may knock back a km or two before I hit the lock button.

PS: Often see frantic scrabbling to remove/hide the RD as I walk up to the car.
One of the best quotes "Fuggit, I paid $xxx for this bloody thing and you still got me."

But yeah, a prudent rider with RD will probably go a long way between tickets.

[denill]

Have got heaps with RDs.

'Instant-on', undulating country etc and 'blingo' your pinged.

Do you get a buzz when you ping someone?

It must be a bit like shooting rabbits.

[madandy]

Only instant on I've encountered has been with traffic ahead so generally receive plenty of warning...if you're at the head of the que or out on your own then you're vulnerable for sure.
As for undulating terrain the late model BEL products (well my XR 950 au/nz anyway and the newer XR magnesium & Sti) work sweet through hills, forrests and mulitple blind bends including through rock gorges -once again, warning is sufficient for swift travel but not always for MotoGP pace.

[Pixie]

If the LTSA, Police & gummint got proactive & embraced RD technology they could slow a lot of people down where necessary, ie, 'black spots', accident sites, miscellaneous dangerous sites, urban areas and leaves us to the open roads a wee bit more.

Some years ago the NZ authorities were offered SWS beacons for free, for use at accidents etc,but said no thanks because it would justify the use of SWS capable detectors

[denill]

Have got heaps with RDs.

'Instant-on', undulating country etc and 'blingo' your pinged.

Instant on - resulted in my last contribution to the Consolidated Fund!

[denill]

Some years ago the NZ authorities were offered SWS beacons for free, for use at accidents etc,but said no thanks because it would justify the use of SWS capable detectors

Really? What's your source?

[pritch]

But yeah, a prudent rider with RD will probably go a long way between tickets.

That's probably fair comment.

The bumpf that came with the detector contained a warning against complacency or placing total trust in it.

You are still advised to keep doing whatever you did prior to getting the detector to avoid getting tickets. For example watch the traffic going the other direction, if they are all behaving themselves there might be a reason for that. On the other hand if there are a succession of bikes going past in full fang mode it just might be a good day

[Pixie]

Oh, they work at times - like when a slack cop cruises around with the radar on continously

90% of the cops I see must be slack bastards then