Laser detector

laissez-faire · 12 Dec 2006 at 00:19

What good is a laser detector if it only takes 4/5ths of a second to record the vehicle speed? If you are doing 90 on a motorway you haven't got much hope of slowing to 70 in that time, so surely detecting the laser will just be a way of saying 'you just got caught'.

Phil W · 12 Dec 2006 at 00:21

Haven't you just answered your own question?

laissez-faire · 12 Dec 2006 at 00:24

Phil W said:
Haven't you just answered your own question?

So why buy one?

Phil W · 12 Dec 2006 at 00:27

Because people who break the speed limit are under the illusion they will be able to stop in time?

andi · 12 Dec 2006 at 00:53

laissez-faire said:
So why buy one?

Apparently, they can detect laser "scatter" which is laser bouncing of cars ahead that have been speed checked. The chances of that are probably pretty damned slim.

In truth, they're a waste of time.

Psycrow · 12 Dec 2006 at 02:25

As already said, and as really answered by your own post: They are pointless. In what is probably at best 1 time every 100 you will catch the scatter before they beam gets to you, even then you probably wont be able to slow down in time.

Jimbeam3678 · 12 Dec 2006 at 08:12

If you so happen to have an automatic garage door with a remote you may have slightly more time

But I thing this is going into a grey area so i'll it to soeone else to explain

dale1uk · 12 Dec 2006 at 10:15

divaboy said:
If you so happen to have an automatic garage door with a remote you may have slightly more time

Ahh the good old cloaking device

Rotty · 12 Dec 2006 at 10:38

as said they are a waste of time, I have tested a detector ( the B2 one which is one of the best ) and it never picked up any scatter

re the 4/5 of a second , I think it is much less that that

schnipps · 12 Dec 2006 at 10:52

Much better with GPS locator one like on tom tom only problem is they warn of cameras that arent on the same road you are on.

Fr0dders · 12 Dec 2006 at 11:01

Rotty said:
as said they are a waste of time, I have tested a detector ( the B2 one which is one of the best ) and it never picked up any scatter

re the 4/5 of a second , I think it is much less that that

5th gear did do a test once

only way it will work is if the car in front of you is getting lasered, you then get the laser "scatter"

but in that scenario you allmost certainly werent going to get caught anyway, cos the copper wasnt aiming his gun at you, so you've not actually saved yourself any fine/points.

Chronos-X · 12 Dec 2006 at 13:36

Use a gps, and learn to recognise a brightly painted icecream van at the side of the road when you see one.

Rotty · 12 Dec 2006 at 13:55

MrLOL said:
5th gear did do a test once

only way it will work is if the car in front of you is getting lasered, you then get the laser "scatter"
.

I tried several scenarios and the only way you could pick it up was at very long distances where the red dot could actually be on 2 cars at once

R220 · 12 Dec 2006 at 17:55

IMO they are useful for peace of mind. For example if you go past a camera van over the limit at least you know you have been done or not. A good GPS system will usually have built in laser detection for this reason.

Rotty · 12 Dec 2006 at 18:59

R220 said:
IMO they are useful for peace of mind. For example if you go past a camera van over the limit at least you know you have been done or not. A good GPS system will usually have built in laser detection for this reason.

most people put their laser sensors on the windscreen whereas the police target the number plate