Using a GPS to Find Speed Traps?
 

ok I have a GPS which is cool, but I found this online and wondered if it works like it says it does, basicly you down load poi maps that are updated as needed. when your moving around in your car, it 'alerts you' to 'known' speed traps and traffic cameras.

Sounds cool ( I want it), does anyone on here use something like this? I think there are a couple of sites that do this. this is the one I was looking at.

phantom alert review

Sounds like a good idea to me...

Doesn't TomTom or Garmin have the speed trap location function? I'm pretty sure I've seen it advertised...

Pretty slick if it works

You can also get it from POI Factory | new & interesting places for your GPS.

My TomTom has many preloaded & they update when you do map updates. The first time it went off - in Sicily on holidays - I had no idea what it was. They call it 'Safety Cameras' & it certainly works with fixed red light cams.

Ian

In Europe, especially the UK, almost all of the GPS units have this feature. Have not seen it done here yet.

They have been doing this in England for a while. They have many, many more speed cameras in use - but also warn you of known "speed trap" zones.

Interesting technology as long as the data base gets up-dated.

My old Uniden GPS-RD allows you to record speed traps, but this is 2001/2002 technology.

The Passport 9500ix allows you to download speedtraps to it.

PASSPORT 9500ix - Escort Inc.

will it drop nails into the cops hiding places?

The iphone GPS lists speed traps. The downside is that in a metropolitan area, the alert is constantly going off due to the previous reportings of a trap at every hill, corner, blind spot and overpass.

I turned it off.

Trapster is an iPhone app that attempts to do this. Seems pretty new, so theres not much data yet.

This is a real help here in the UK....
Granted in town its a pain as there are traps everywhere and the warnings are set to give you about 1/4 mile to react...but on the open road.. yes there are some here it keeps you sane....

There are both 'fixed' locations, ie where they install a permanent camera, these locations have to be published by the Police and the databases are updated (assuming you have a subscription to do so)....and the databases also note locations where the mobile traps are 'likely'.... very handy.

There's a site I had that offers POI downloads for Garmins for speed traps in the Toronto area, but it's useless because they cops aren't *that* dumb - the traps always move about. Most of the "alerts" were false alarms, and I saw traps that didn't come up with warnings. I guess if those keeping the POI downloaded update it several times a day and you update your gps before every drive, it might work, but you'd save more time by just driving slowly...

In modern America within urban or even suburban areas there is no safe "speeding" anyway.. Just too much traffic and idiot drivers.

In more rural areas that pass through consistantly the "speed traps" look to be in regular places. It could be a nice feature.

Here's a site that lists all of the spots within the POIs for speed cams, red light cams etc.

See GPS Data Team

Ian

I used it....went back to a standard V1.....