Radar detector in car equipment - can it be used legally?

Anyone willing to pay the fine? Police checks, speed cameras, lidars or inductive loops on the roads mean drivers' wallets are losing a lot of money. However, there are methods that effectively reduce the risk. Is radar detector - because we're talking about it - the right way to avoid fines? Read whether the use of such devices is legal and see if they are worth investing in.

What is a car anti-radar?

The device, acting as an anti-radar device, tries to track the signal of equipment that measures the speed of vehicles. A key element from the driver's point of view is the antenna, which picks up the waves sent by the speed camera and informs you when a POI is approaching. It should be noted that wave detection radar detectors are illegal. The presence of such equipment in your vehicle is not tantamount to a fine. The legislator punishes only when the detector is ready for operation during a police check. However, this prohibited type of driver assistance device is not the only one.

Car anti-radar for legal use

In addition to traditional speed camera detectors, there are also apps on the market that bring users together. One of the most popular is Janosik. The application tracks the progress of the route in real time and displays POIs where there is a police check, an accident or a speed camera. Such a radar detector is a legal driver's tool and its use is not penalized by officers. This a safer choice for drivers, but not as effective as a flow wave detector.

Radar detector - how does the device work?

The antenna plays the most important role in the device that informs travelers about the database of speed cameras. They extract information from the waves emitted by police equipment. The simplest and cheapest solutions are good for the oldest types of hand-held radars (so-called dryers). These police devices operate on X and K waves, which are sent at a very high frequency. Their detection is not a serious problem for radar detectors. Devices that detect Ka, Ku and SWKa waves are also available.

What will a radar detector detect when receiving waves?

When the radar detector detects emitted waves, it informs the driver about an approaching threat with a sound or other signal.

If you drive with the receiver turned on, it will notice forms of radar monitoring such as:

• Radar;
• lidar;
• "Dryer";
• handheld device behind a police car.

Speed ​​camera detector - differences in the operation of radar detector models

Driver monitoring equipment differs in complexity, use of specific waves and operating frequency range. The oldest measuring devices are the easiest to find because they work on X-waves. The most modern anti-radar can detect such police equipment from several kilometers, but they are already so widely used by officers. Police officers use K-band radars much more often. Since the frequency range is narrow (about 200 MHz), car anti-radar devices do not have a very wide search field and quickly detect such equipment.

Anti-radar against a radar that emits a Ka-wave

It is much more difficult in the case of Ka-waves, which are emitted in a very wide band. Therefore, the simplest devices are not able to detect such devices from large distances. Usually the driver himself will notice the patrol or measuring device. And often at such moments it is too late to react.

Radar detector - the price of various models and applications

If you're counting on cheap options on your road check detection accessories list, you need to reevaluate your expectations. The anti-radar usually costs several hundred zlotys, and often you have to buy a subscription or subscription. The simplest products without a display, which do not detect waves very effectively, cost about 40 euros, it is not surprising that the more advanced the device, the more expensive it is. Modern devices usually already have a lifetime update license and are called multiradar. Their cost usually exceeds 2500-300 euros. The most modern radar detectors have:

• LED screens;
• device lock function;
• locks preventing hardware detection.

Anti-radar and the law - is it worth using?

You already know how these devices work and what they are used for. It's time to decide if it makes sense to use them. Each of them sends the driver information about the approach of one form or another of the road test. Usually, it is drivers who deliberately exceed the speed limit that have something to fear and use such systems. Therefore, the radar detector is not useful to those who drive according to the regulations. Producers themselves implicitly assume the recipients of their goods. Their equipment allows you to avoid sudden braking before checking. If you drive legally, you have nothing to worry about.

Radar detector increases safety?

Exceeding the speed limit in populated areas or outside them poses a threat not only to the driver, but also to other road users. Therefore, we can safely say that such accessories allow you to break the law without stress in areas not covered by speed measurement. The fact that someone slows down right in front of a speed camera or other detection device doesn't really matter if they break the rules again moments later.

Radar detector usually introduces the driver to higher speeds and can give a sense of impunity. However, such devices inform not only about speed measurements, but also about traffic accidents. Is it worth buying such equipment? It all depends on how you want to use it. Remember that driving in accordance with the rules of the road does not give you a reason to be afraid of control!

Image credit: Sergey Solom from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0