The speed limit of a road is a complex calculation. Long stretches of open road might let drivers travel at 70-80 miles per hour, while denser populations require lower speeds. Public safety is the biggest contributor, but there isn’t a set of rules that define how speed is set. Cities might review points where accidents happen, or make decisions based on the environment (like a dual lane highway near a mountain). Before the officer ever picks up a police radar gun, you should know the warning signs of a speed trap.
Speed Limit Signs
Probably the oldest form of speed trap, a speed limit sign tries to help drivers get acquainted with local limits. Speed limits come from a road conditions, traffic flow and the speed that will total the minimal cost to society. While not a speed trap in the traditional sense, it is a sign that drivers need to slow down when they approach one. Remember, you can be ticketed for driving too slow as well.
Radar Guns
Police radar guns are probably the most popular form of speed trap for drivers to be aware of on the highway. Often, a cop will park his or her car on the side of the road out of view and flip on a radar device. The gun is designed to read the speed of drivers coming towards it. When there is a shift in the frequency emitted by the gun, the officer knows whether you are speeding.
Speed Cameras
Speed cameras can be a more subtle method of trapping drivers going too fast. It’s perfect for those who have a hard time holding their tongue when they are stopped by police. A camera that is placed at the side of the road records the oncoming speed of vehicles, and speeding cars are caught in snapshots. The driver may not even realize he has been caught until he receives the ticket in the mail.
Speed Boards
Speed boards are similar to speed signs, in that they tell the driver what speed is sufficient for the road. The sign has built in radar or laser technology that looks at how quickly a driver is moving and blinks a warning at them to slow down. It’s a subtle reminder to drivers, confronting them with the actual speeds they are travelling in an effort to get them to slow.
Police say that there are no monthly speed trap quotas they must meet to keep their jobs, but the goal is to get drivers to slow down. Speeding tickets often don’t add much to the city’s coffers, but they do help keep people safe. Observe the rules of road, but know a speed trap when you see one.
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