Advice sort re speed trap detectors
Discussion
Just been done £60 and 3 points for exceeding a 30mph limit, not in the Wedge though. No excuses but still hurts.So can anyone recomend a lazer/ radar detector device for the car.Have seen one at £99.99 and another that also does Gatsos for £399.99 which seems a bit steep.
Thanks for any help.
Thanks for any help.
Mike,
I got a road angel 1 with laser alert works really well for fixed speed cameras as it uses GPS, must say I wouldn't be without it now.
The snooper radar detector I had before this was close to useless as it went off all the time although it was a few years ago I bought it and it was the base model.
The road angel costs a bit more mine was 300 with a lifetime subscription but well worth it imho.
If you want to stop the laser guns you would probably need a laser diffuser as by the time the laser alert is triggered they've probably got you. There is some question over these being legal and they are likely not to be in the near future.
GF.
I got a road angel 1 with laser alert works really well for fixed speed cameras as it uses GPS, must say I wouldn't be without it now.
The snooper radar detector I had before this was close to useless as it went off all the time although it was a few years ago I bought it and it was the base model.
The road angel costs a bit more mine was 300 with a lifetime subscription but well worth it imho.
If you want to stop the laser guns you would probably need a laser diffuser as by the time the laser alert is triggered they've probably got you. There is some question over these being legal and they are likely not to be in the near future.
GF.
I (almost) never leave home without one and so IMHO:
1) More expensive IS better. I've "tested" both expensive and cheap and you get what you pay for.
2) Batteries vs plug-in. I tried going the battery route (Escort Passport) but found in the real world 1) the auto cut-off (no alarms after so long) would turn the unit off and I wouldn't realize it until too late. 2) The batteries tended to die too quickly and unexpectedly. 3) The display was hard to read in the sun.
3) The power connector for a Valentine One is the same size as the switch cut-out in the center console of my wedge and I had an unused cut-out. I hot glued it in so it's easily removable if I ever need to put a switch back in. Plus people think it's a phone jack, lots of fun with that <grin>. I use the cigar lighter plug-in with the other cars but really should do a proper hard-wire job in the Suburban.
4) BUT if we are addressing using one in a convertible then you need to plan to remove it from sight at every stop. That's a pain. And the detector, clip and cord take up a lot of pocket or brief case space. I usually just slip the unit in a jacket pocket and leave the balance in situ. (Smaller, cheaper & battery get extra points here.)
5) I like the arrow function on the Valentine One. It may be a little bigger than other units but no problem in the Wedge or Jag. Had an Escort before and was equally happy with the performance.
Good luck...
1) More expensive IS better. I've "tested" both expensive and cheap and you get what you pay for.
2) Batteries vs plug-in. I tried going the battery route (Escort Passport) but found in the real world 1) the auto cut-off (no alarms after so long) would turn the unit off and I wouldn't realize it until too late. 2) The batteries tended to die too quickly and unexpectedly. 3) The display was hard to read in the sun.
3) The power connector for a Valentine One is the same size as the switch cut-out in the center console of my wedge and I had an unused cut-out. I hot glued it in so it's easily removable if I ever need to put a switch back in. Plus people think it's a phone jack, lots of fun with that <grin>. I use the cigar lighter plug-in with the other cars but really should do a proper hard-wire job in the Suburban.
4) BUT if we are addressing using one in a convertible then you need to plan to remove it from sight at every stop. That's a pain. And the detector, clip and cord take up a lot of pocket or brief case space. I usually just slip the unit in a jacket pocket and leave the balance in situ. (Smaller, cheaper & battery get extra points here.)
5) I like the arrow function on the Valentine One. It may be a little bigger than other units but no problem in the Wedge or Jag. Had an Escort before and was equally happy with the performance.
Good luck...
Just stick to driving the Wedge 
In the 9 years I've had mine I've had a total of ......... lots of fixed penalty's. I've collected points in every car I've owned since I was 19, but the Wedge is still blemish free on the police front.
Can't explain why, but as I've picked up 9pts in the last 9 months I'm praying to the great god of Blackpool that pattern doesn't change now.
In the 9 years I've had mine I've had a total of ......... lots of fixed penalty's. I've collected points in every car I've owned since I was 19, but the Wedge is still blemish free on the police front. Can't explain why, but as I've picked up 9pts in the last 9 months I'm praying to the great god of Blackpool that pattern doesn't change now.
There's a do it yourself kit in the current (January) edition of Everyday Practical Electronics. Total cost is expected to be about £75. As soon as I have time, I intend to give it a go. The big advantage to a do it yourself kit, from my point of view, in addition to the cost, is the fact that you can build it into the car somewhere ("Where?" is the next question), keeping is safe from prying eyes.
Gerry Attrick said:
... you can build it into the car somewhere ("Where?" is the next question).
How about into the rear view mirror. It's all line of sight stuff so the higher up the greater the range.
I might take a look at doing this.
L
Just looked up the project at www.epemag.com/projects.html
Looks like it's not a radar or laser detector but just a GPS location warning. So it's not line of sight and the GPS receiver could be just about anywhere because of the GRP bodywork.
L
>> Edited by leorest on Monday 17th January 09:14
I have been told that the Road Angel is rather good.
Under NO circumstances use these in France or have them anywhere on display/in view in your car. You will get hit for a £2,000 fine and your car confiscated. The fine has to be paid in cash I believe.
There is quite a famous story of this happening to a chap in a Ferrari which necessitated a two or three day stay in a hotel and multiple taxi rides round to cash machines in nearby towns some miles away.
Under NO circumstances use these in France or have them anywhere on display/in view in your car. You will get hit for a £2,000 fine and your car confiscated. The fine has to be paid in cash I believe.
There is quite a famous story of this happening to a chap in a Ferrari which necessitated a two or three day stay in a hotel and multiple taxi rides round to cash machines in nearby towns some miles away.
leorest said:
Gerry Attrick said:
... you can build it into the car somewhere ("Where?" is the next question).
How about into the rear view mirror. It's all line of sight stuff so the higher up the greater the range.
I might take a look at doing this.
L
Just looked up the project at <a href="http://www.epemag.com/projects.html">www.epemag.com/projects.html</a>
Looks like it's not a radar or laser detector but just a GPS location warning. So it's not line of sight and the GPS receiver could be just about anywhere because of the GRP bodywork.
L
>> Edited by leorest on Monday 17th January 09:14
Yes. It's only a locating device based on GPS, but once you've manufactured the device you can download the radar locations FOC. Obviously you need to update the memeory frequently and it's no good for portable units.
>> Edited by Gerry Attrick on Monday 17th January 13:46
[url] www.radar-direct.co.uk [/url] These seem to have some reasonable offers
Do these devices detect doddery old gits pulling out of blind junctions, small children running into the road, the tailback over the brow of a hill, the broken down car or a horse around the next bend, cyclists without lights, .......... etc. Do they reduce the braking of you car?
No,No,No,No,No,No,......No,.
In my experience anyone using these devices do so with blatant disregard to the speed limit, indeed they drive even faster than they did 15 years ago before the advent of Gatsos etc.
I believe that anyone caught using these devices should face a fine and points on their licence - or have their car crushed.
Speed limits are there to protect ALL road users.
Get used to driving within the limit and you could save yourself grief and a great deal of money.
Mark.
No,No,No,No,No,No,......No,.
In my experience anyone using these devices do so with blatant disregard to the speed limit, indeed they drive even faster than they did 15 years ago before the advent of Gatsos etc.
I believe that anyone caught using these devices should face a fine and points on their licence - or have their car crushed.
Speed limits are there to protect ALL road users.
Get used to driving within the limit and you could save yourself grief and a great deal of money.
Mark.
Do these devices detect doddery old gits pulling out of blind junctions, small children running into the road, the tailback over the brow of a hill, the broken down car or a horse around the next bend, cyclists without lights, .......... etc. Do they reduce the braking distance of you car?
No,No,No,No,No,No,......No,.
In my experience anyone using these devices do so with blatant disregard to the speed limit, indeed they drive even faster than they did 15 years ago before the advent of Gatsos etc.
I believe that anyone caught using these devices should face a fine and points on their licence - or have their car crushed.
Speed limits are there to protect ALL road users.
Get used to driving within the limit and you could save yourself grief and a great deal of money.
Mark.
>> Edited by bobble350 on Wednesday 19th January 13:02
No,No,No,No,No,No,......No,.
In my experience anyone using these devices do so with blatant disregard to the speed limit, indeed they drive even faster than they did 15 years ago before the advent of Gatsos etc.
I believe that anyone caught using these devices should face a fine and points on their licence - or have their car crushed.
Speed limits are there to protect ALL road users.
Get used to driving within the limit and you could save yourself grief and a great deal of money.
Mark.
>> Edited by bobble350 on Wednesday 19th January 13:02
bobble350 said:
Do these devices detect doddery old gits pulling out of blind junctions, small children running into the road, the tailback over the brow of a hill, the broken down car or a horse around the next bend, cyclists without lights, .......... etc. Do they reduce the braking distance of you car?
No,No,No,No,No,No,......No,.
In my experience anyone using these devices do so with blatant disregard to the speed limit, indeed they drive even faster than they did 15 years ago before the advent of Gatsos etc.
I believe that anyone caught using these devices should face a fine and points on their licence - or have their car crushed.
Speed limits are there to protect ALL road users.
Get used to driving within the limit and you could save yourself grief and a great deal of money.
Mark.
>> Edited by bobble350 on Wednesday 19th January 13:02
As someone who (in)frequents a forum for enthusiasts who enjoy driving their cars (safely on the whole), you do talk a load of bollox sometimes.
Personally I don't have a detector (too expensive) but I'm sure people who do have them have a bit off nouse about what may lie beyond the next bend, brow etc. after all these hazzards have always been here and how you can have experienced sooo many people driving even faster with detectors on board is worthy of further questioning.
Why don't you stick to the bus?
bobble350 said:
Do these devices detect doddery old gits pulling out of blind junctions, small children running into the road, the tailback over the brow of a hill, the broken down car or a horse around the next bend, cyclists without lights, .......... etc. Do they reduce the braking distance of you car?
No,No,No,No,No,No,......No,.
In my experience anyone using these devices do so with blatant disregard to the speed limit, indeed they drive even faster than they did 15 years ago before the advent of Gatsos etc.
I believe that anyone caught using these devices should face a fine and points on their licence - or have their car crushed.
Speed limits are there to protect ALL road users.
Get used to driving within the limit and you could save yourself grief and a great deal of money.
Mark.
>> Edited by bobble350 on Wednesday 19th January 13:02
Well the Black spot road angel has the ability to warn you of known accident black spots whether they have a camera situated at them or not.
It also alerts you to the camera sites which gives you a dergree of warning that you are entering a zone where people may be slamming their brakes on suddenly for no aparent reason when they suddenly spot the scamera at the side of the road hidden behind a bridge or a tree.
Don't get me wrong I'm not advocating reckless driving, personally have no points on my licence but have recently bought a road angel as I want my full attention to be utilised looking where I'm going rather than constantly staring at my speedo to make sure I havn't slipped 2 mph over the limit.
stever said:
Why don't you stick to the bus?
Our council don't waste money on buses out here in the sticks any more. The railways were dug up decades ago. We don't have many safety partnership cameras either for that matter. Some of you would have a field day here! We do have plenty of ambulances whizzing about to RTAs though. Even dead or maimed children. I'll leave it there.
Mark.
JJ - I never went away, it's just no fun with everybody agreeing and slapping each other on the back all the time is it? What's the latest on Firefox?
bobble350 said:
We do have plenty of ambulances whizzing about to RTAs though. Even dead or maimed children.
Maybe you need to educate the children to STOP LOOK and LISTEN and stay out of the road. Driving at a prescribed limit does not make you a safe driver, and the sooner people realise that the sooner we will reduce RTAs.
>> Edited by wedge girl on Friday 21st January 22:43
wedge girl said:
Driving at a prescribed limit does not make you a safe driver.
I totally agree. Does driving above the prescribed speed limit make you a safer driver?
80% killed if hit at 40mph
80% live if hit at 30mph
75% of speeding tickets in our area are issued for exceeding the limit in built up 20 and 30mph zones.
Should we not educate drivers as well as children?
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