I love the ski mask and bullet analogy, but think you might have been a little heavy-handed in your response. I, too, find it interesting there are so many suggestions to drive at the Speed Limit.

With no intent of taking issue with your own position on this - well, except perhaps on your suggestion regarding the track, which would seem to suggest you think "speeding" means at very high speeds - there are a few of us out there who have radar detectors, not for use in high speed runs on the freeway, but merely because the use of Radar is not Law Enforcement; it's revenue collecting.

Now that's a separate issue, but my point is that many of us sometimes drive 5-10 MPH over the posted speed. Usually just to maintain the flow of traffic. I think it's always good to know where the "revenuers" are hiding just to avoid adding to the coffers of some local jurisdiction. Driving a Corvette can sometimes suggest an ability to pay more freely than, say, Soccer Mom in the mini-van. Certainly it stands out as a potential revenue source and could elicit a misreading of the radar unit on the part of the LEO. It happens, believe me; I've been a victim myself. Radar is not well understood by many officers who use it IMO.

Your response was very well-written and certainly food for thought. I just think the people who really need the message may be in the minority on this forum. Thank you and have a nice holiday.

 

I need to look in the manual. I did do that when I bought it but I'll take a quick look at the troubleshooting section

 

You assume much which is unfortunate. You assume that because someone uses a radar detector they are automatically going 100 in a 25mph school zone. You dismiss such things as speed signs that say 45mph and then 20 feet later say 25mph but hidden behind a bushy tree, etc. Of course this is the other end of the spectrum from your example; however, there is a huge swath of territory between the speed limit and the life and death of your family.

As I said, I am not personally insulted by someone commenting on the speed limit, but I have found it amusing how it always seems to come up on every radar detector thread ever written over the years. not just the ones discussing speed, but even ones like this asking to troubleshoot an issue. So, just commenting on what I am observing. If anyone is actually swayed one way or the other over such posts, I would be astounded.

 

I enjoyed this post and agree that those off topic sermons are utterly ineffective.

Due to the demographics of our group, I'd wager that some of the older members may have lost the edge that allows safe driving at higher speeds and they resent those of us who haven't!

I, by the way, am definitely in the older demographic, but I retain the edge and I'm not about to post silly sermons if and when it goes!

 

Oh, Pleeeeaze, please tell me you're kidding. You are, aren't you?

Retain the edge? I must remember this in case I ever need to explain the Corvette to my kids.

 

The Original poster stated that he was driving to Atlanta and asked for any tips. He got mine. Don't speed. If the thing keeps beeping, place it in the glove box, plug in your ipod and set the cruise control. Enjoy the drive.

 

Agree.

Mira Slovak lives on!

 

Valentine One is the way to go..can send it back to update the software. I swear by it!

PS I have a badge!

 

To rkoblin who wrote "PS I have a badge." Your public profile on this forum says that you are a retired firefighter. Thank You for your service.

 

Quite driving 5 over the PSL and start doing 20-25 over PSL and see how long that thing "saves" you. I give you less than an hour before you throw it at the trooper that's getting ready to haul you off.

Speed countermeasures is a game you cannot skimp on and expect to win. .

 

There is a hole in this logic. The radar detector will not tell you when the speed limit changes from 45 to 25, only attentive driving will. The same attentiveness that will alert you to pedestrians or kids running out into the street.

I find it amusing how no one will ever admit 'I want to speed but just don't want to get caught' , rather everyone likes to blame enforcement of laws as 'tax collecting' somehow making the police the offending party rather than taking any personal responsibility for their own actions. It is accepted that if you blow a rear at the track everyone will say 'you have to pay to play' but will NEVER apply this logic to speeding.

For what it's worth, in ten years I have only had one Corvette speeding and that was at over 30+ the limit of 55mph on a highway. I have however noted a statistically significant number of radar detectors in cars going 25+ over the limit. I have also watched at least a dozen of those get chucked out the window into the woods when I let the driver know we don't use radar.

Merry Christmas to all, and please drive safe

 

There is no hole. If one cannot see a hidden sign then they cannot see it no matter how attentive. As I said in my post, this was but a polar opposite example to yours. Although you did attempt to compare the users of radar detectors to those that look for ways to murder police officers or rob banks....

I assume you are in law enforcement so I can understand your defensiveness when it comes to some people's views. It is not unwarranted, nor is it totally correct. I cannot speak for everyone of course as you cannot (and should not) pigeon hole every RD owner as a lawless reckless speedster with no regard for anyone's life. I hold zero animus towards the police and I do not blame them for enforcing the laws. In fact just yesterday it was reported here in So. Cal that a policeman stopped an SUV and was in turn stabbed for having done so. The peril that these folks put themselves in to enforce the law and save people should not go unappreciated.

Most of my driving life I did not own a radar detector including the first several years of Corvette ownership. Why did I get one? I was merging onto the freeway as I do every morning and there were a huge bunch of semis coming up from behind. I accelerated to about 10 mph over the speed limit to get into the left lane where I could cruise comfortably. Immediately upon doing so I was pulled over. I was polite to the officer, I did not deny what I did, and I took her ticket and advice to take on-line traffic school to eliminate the points. She didn't do anything wrong and was of course technically correct in giving me the ticket. Do I wish she used different judgment to see what I was doing and let it go? Of course, but she wasn't bound nor required to do so. So I got a RD. Why? Because I'd do the same thing every single time without hesitation (unless the RD goes off) and I'd prefer not to get a ticket. Also, do I cruise sometimes in the left lane with other traffic (or no traffic) at 10 mph over? Yup. Did I do this when I didn't have a RD? Yup.

I am not saying there aren't people who may look at a RD as ticket to do whatever they want in a car. However, people who would do that would likely do it anyway. I've seen plenty of crazy driving and certainly it wasn't limited to those who own a RD. I own one and I have kids. I can assure you that I don't go speeding around my residential neighborhood or go barreling through school zones. I also have no interest in how to get around bullet proof armor or better disguise myself at a bank. I've also never been the cause of any accident. It is possible to drive attentively and responsibly and own a RD. I assume you don't drive your Corvette like you would a Honda Accord. That doesn't make you a danger to your fellow man. One size doesn't fit all in every circumstance.

 

I need to loan you my 9500ix...I have tried the V1 compared to the Escort 9500ix sold to V1 to a forum member a few months ago.

All the software updates in the world do not give the V1 GPS capabilities and a update-able speed camera database. The V1 was a good detector in it's day, but that day has passed. Trust me....

I am willing to let anyone "Test" my unit shoot me a PM, and with a deposit I will ship it too you to test for free and then you send it back when done "testing"

Have done this several times with other V1 owners....Let's just say the V1 went up on ebay within 2 days

Shoot me a PM is you want a free test drive....

Jim

 

My view on speed limits....

The problem is that so many government agencies have cried "wolf" too many times. There is a stretch of road in Naples Florida that has 6 lanes, a divider, great visibility, and maybe 2 access points in a mile or two. Speed limit?...35mph. The cops are out there running laser quite often and generating a lot of revenue for the city/county government.

The speed limit gets decreed by the wizard of oz for all we citizens know. Yet we are all supposed to assume that the "government" picks the speed limit based on road conditions and safety concerns by "experts."

Speed limits have become similar to warning labels. They are often so ridiculous, ("do not use while bathing" on my wife’s blow dryer for instance, or "remove before driving" on the sun shades that cover the entire windshield of a car,) that nobody really puts much stock in them anymore. They drive near the speed limit strictly to obey the government mandates and avoid the financial wrath of said government's. -not because they think another 10mph would put them or anyone else in jeopardy.

There are still traffic limits that are set in a thoughtful manner but they get lost in the noise of all the other nonsense out there.

My favorite example is the "advisory" signs for curves. In Florida, a "35mph" advisory sign means you can safely negotiate the turn in the rain, on four corded tires, through an oil slick, at say 45mph. Absolutely useless advisory speed signs in Florida. In WV though, I was surprised to find that their signs make sense. 35mph advisory means 45mph will make your tires sing and palms sweaty -under perfect conditions. IIRC the tail of the dragon's advisory signs are ok also.

With so many speed limits set artificially low, few people give them much credence. The only difference between most speed limits and the tag on my mattress that reads “DO NOT REMOVE UNDER PENALTY OF LAW” is that people don’t have to worry about getting a ticket on their mattress.

And then there is this...

US Department of Transportation study finds only five percent of crashes caused by excessive speed.
12/15/08

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/26/2627.asp

And an example of how the general public votes on speed limits with the accelerator, every day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuM2A...layer_embedded

Sure, the people doing the test are going as fast as the arbitrary speed limit allows. But that sea of cars trapped behind them is a testament to how speed limits have lost credibility with the vast majority of drivers.

 

That is a great post and from my experience it is spot on!

Certainly 20 years of the idiotic 55 mph National Maximum Speed Limit gives moot testimony to the arbitrary nature of speed limits.

Thanks for your post!

 

I only have a RD for one reason,i do not speed that much,but it has saved me a few times,cause i have a Bud-lite in my cup holder & i might have a Joint burning & when I'm driving down my road the speed limit is 45 MPH,so i put it on cruise at 43 MPH.Bottom line, if the KA band goes off & i do not care where the law is at i know not to take a drink or have a hit.If i want to Burn my tires or do a wot i go out to the country where it is save to test my 518 hp LS3.

 

I viewed the video posted by Z1Nonly. Looks like traffic was moving right along to me. It is against the law to drive in the passing lane unless you are passing another vehicle. That's here in Colorado. Those in the far left lane in the video should move to the right. But if everybody is going the speed limit, why would you need to pass? What I saw in the video was a bunch of young folks who are upset over nothing and may be road rage candidates. And the 55 mph speed limit was enacted in the 70's in order to save fuel. I didn't like it either and it changed, didn't it? When it did go back to the old limits, there was no big increase in traffic deaths.

 

Well, yes it did change....but it took da*n near an entire generation to change even after the 'need to save fuel' abated.

Unfortunately, here in California all roads did not revert back to previous limits and we are still stuck with the idiotic 55 after 35 years. This includes most two lane highways in the state.

It's on those roads that a radar detector pays off big time and I feel no obligation whatsoever to obey this particular limit - EVER.

 

Usually common sense takes hold and changes are made. Colorado went to 75 MPH in rural areas. In Denver on I-25 near downtown the limit was 55. They raised it to 65 because everybody was driving about 65 or what most consider to be a safe speed. Near downtown may still be 55 due to volume of traffic. California traffic may be different. I was in LA last year and my O my was there traffic. Peole were driving 80mph bumper to bumper. Not safe.

 

So, the guy has a question about radar detectors and you find it necessary to call his manhood into question?

Most highway speed limits are arbitrary, artificially low and are more about revenue generation than safety. Besides, is there really any any point in having 436HP at your disposal if you're never going to use it?

We are all speeders; let he who hath never sped cast the first stone.