At what angle must a car approach the radar to be accurately clocked?
Police radar measures the relative speed of the target as it approaches or moves away from the radar (see the question on relative speed). For angles of less than 11 degrees when the radar is in stationary mode the difference is negligible and the indicated speed will be either the same as the true speed or maybe one mph less. As the angle increases the speed reading drops off sharply until, at 90 degrees, it momentarily reads “zero” or no reading. For a moving radar that is properly aligned in line with the patrol vehicle’s path of travel the effect is much the same. If the antenna is misaligned (aimed substantially away from the line of travel) while in moving mode it is possible for the target to register a higher than true speed if the radar is generating a lower speed for the patrol vehicle. These anglular effects are often called cosine factor and should be addressed during operator training.
Related Questions
- Yes, it is known as moving radar. Also, you can be clocked from the front or back of the patrol car. And the antenna is off until the officer turns it on and the radar is not emiting a signal until then. When the radar detector beeps its too late. You e had.
- Does a vehicle’s shape and size affect its ability to be clocked with radar?
- At what angle must a car approach the radar to be accurately clocked?
