Is radar speed detection always accurate?
Usually, yes. A well-maintained, properly-tested radar receiver, used by a professional operator, can be accurate to within 1/10 of a mile per hour. The radar signal spans all traffic going in both directions. Aimed at an object less than 1/4 mile away, the beam can be as wide as six or eight lanes of traffic. The radar receiver reports on the strongest signal it picks up. Vehicle size and shape can make a difference (a big truck reflects a stronger signal than a motorcycle or small car). This means that the radar receiver can sometimes pick up a reading from a vehicle other than the one intended by the operator.
