The Best Radar Detector

Buying Guide

A speeding ticket can put a serious damper on your day. Not only will you face a fine of $150 on average, but you’ll also have to deal with the drama of being pulled over by a police officer. Although smartphone apps like Waze can alert you that a police officer is coming up, do you really want to trust your fellow travelers to report one?

The best solution remains the same thing people used to avoid speeding tickets before we had smartphones. A radar detector picks up the emissions produced by police officers’ devices. Today’s top radar detectors are advanced enough to get around the many issues consumers faced in the past with radar detectors. They’ll find the band most often used by officers and filter out the common causes of false alarms.

If you don’t want to give up the crowdsourced approach to traffic alerts, don’t worry. Some radar detectors sync up with an app that helps you access the power of the crowd. This combination of information will ensure you have the best chance possible of knowing when your speed is about to be checked.

One problem with having a radar detector is that the police may be able to detect you have one on board. A device called Spectre can detect radar detectors and potentially lead to a ticket, depending on where you live. In Virginia and the District of Columbia, use of radar detectors is illegal. You can turn your detector off once it sends an alert since you’ll be slowing down anyway. Once you’re safely past the police officer, you can then turn it back on. There are also some radar detectors that claim to be undetectable to Spectre detectors.

Of course, the most important feature is accuracy. It’s important to look for a radar detector that captures all suspected radar incidents without routinely setting off false alarms. Once you have your detector, there are tweaks you can make to ensure it’s as accurate as possible.

• As valuable as radar detectors are, it can also help to have fellow travelers alerting you to police officers ahead. Some models connect to a smartphone app that allows users to report all radar and laser encounters, with the information reported as alerts through the detector.
• Accuracy can be tough to quantify, but some detectors use technology that is often implemented in high-end radar detectors in order to reduce false alarms.
• Range is also important in a radar detector. Some models notify drivers well in advance of a potential radar incident. They have rear-facing antennae that can also keep a lookout for any radar behind you as you travel.
• False alarms are an ongoing issue with radar detectors. Many models have a bad habit of picking up every hint of radar. Some don’t mute DSP and GPS signals, which means you’ll probably be alerted to every radar you pass.
• One popular feature to look for is directional arrows, which show you the direction of the radar in relation to your car. However, the arrows can have a slow reaction time, making them not as useful.
• Readability is important in your radar detector. Alerts mean nothing if you can’t decipher them. Consider controls that are clearly labeled, with functions that are easy to understand.
• You don’t have to blow your savings to protect yourself against speeding tickets. Though radar detectors can vary greatly in price, you’re sure to find one that fits your budget.