United States Department of Transportation
i
The Impact of Radar Detectors on Highway Traffic Safety
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1988-08-01
[PDF-5.56 MB]
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Edition:Final.
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Abstract:As part of a program to examine the relationship between highway traffic safety and the use of radar detectors, comparisons were made between speed distributions when a detectable radar transmission was present and when it was not. The impact of detectors on speeds varied as a function of the states sampled, highway facility type and vehicle classification. The influence of detectors is seen in reductions in the magnitude of three speed parameters when a detectable radar signal is broadcast. Reductions were observed in mean speed, variability among vehicle speeds and the proportion of vehicles exceeding the speed limit. In general, these reductions are most evident where traffic densities are lower, on higher class facilities where speed limits are higher, and among trucks. The data analyzed for this effort clearly show an influence of radar detectors on traffic behavior when radar is present. This influence can have a negative impact on speed enforcement. Definitive conclusions about the larger issue of the relationship between detectors and traffic safety, however, require resolution of serious methodological issues. The magnitude of the potential negative effect of detectors on traffic safety may be insufficient. to warrant further efforts in this regard.
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