A radar detector isn't enough
 

You have to keep your eyes open too.

I came in to work this morning about 1/2 hour earlier than usual arriving at 6:15. I take a toll road that loops around Houston to get to work. The speed limit is 65, but the traffic usually moves at 75-80. At 6am the traffic is really light. It's not uncommon to see 85mph. I crested an overpass this morning as the approaching sunrise started to lighten the sky. Because the traffic was so light, I was out front with no one to hide behind. I noticed an odd silhouette on the shoulder. It took me a second to realize that it was a motorcycle with a rider sitting perpendicular to the flow of traffic. I wasn't sure that it was a cop, but I knew that it was odd so I hit the brakes. A fraction of a second later, and my V1 blared it's warning. I'm sure that when he hit, I was still probably speeding a bit, but was probably within the safe range.

A radar detector is great, and has saved me or at least warned me many, many times over. You've still got to drive smart (smarter than I was this morning) and be alert. Being tired and complacent this morning almost got me.

I've been a victim of instant-on and quick-trigger several times. My RD is excellent and also pays for itself regularly by pointing out the tax collectors. But it doesn't work well all by itself. Gotta keep the eyes open.

Yep. Situational awareness is the key. If you're the guy "out in front" of the pack, you can't count on the protection of the V1. It is however superb if you're running with a group. You get the warning, the other guy doesn't and you can casually bleed off speed and drift over to the right. Make the other guy take the hit for you.

Ideally I like to find some young punk who's driving like an aggressive a-hole, then follow entrail a bit (minus the zig-zag lane changes and other stupid behavior, just match their speed). Use them as "cop chum". 10 times out of 10 the cop will nail them, not you. It works even better if it's a ricer/"tuner car". Cops love to bust them.

Yep, that's my usual MO, but wasn't this morning.

Does anyone in on-coming traffic flash to warn when there is a cop anymore?
I remember it used to b quite commmon, but I don't see it anymore, I sill still do it for others though..

Laser is the bigger problem.

I see it very rarely. I do it occassionally too.

I agree 100%

Yes, I have had my V1 give me laser warnings that potentially saved me, but usually, if you get a laser hit, the radar detector is just telling you to expect the ticket. I'd like to get a blinder xtreme, but don't have the money to spend on one.

I still do it, but I wonder if people know what it means now a days.

If you see a cinnamon colored Hummer taking up two lanes and cycling between 45 and 75 mph smile and wave. That's probably my friend Rick. (It it's anywhere near the Colorado Club it's definitely him) If some gray haired guy is in the passenger seat hiding his face and trying to ignore the rude gestures from other drivers, that would be me.

Isn't that some kinda gang initiation?

:p

On this road, you could flash your lights for days and no one else would see them, it's about 45 lanes wide...

Screw the tax collectors. Drive in the right lanes doing the speed limit. We're way beyond having to prove one's macho by pushing the envelope. That's for knuckle dragging penis envy types of drivers.

And stock brokers at O'dark thirty on the 405 approaching LAX.

We speed in Houston because the distances are so great, an extra 20mph means an extra hour of sleep in the morning!!

Caliber makes Laser Diffusers that are Legal. They don't "Jam" the signal, just makes them unreadable to the "Smokey"

No pushing the envelope. This is just cruising. The roads are straight as far as the eye can see and 50 lanes wide. I'm not talking about constant lane changes and 2 fast 2 furious.

Wife got pulled over in the Dallas area by local PD who told her Laser detectors are illegal in TX. Anyone no if this is real or not. TIA.

brake lights a mile ahead.

Well, I'm no law expert, but that sounds like a load of bunk.

Laser detectors illegal, seems unlikely.

Laser jammers illegal, seems very possible.

Laser jammers aren't illegal - how do you propose to ban light?

You meant to use green here, right?

The FCC doesn't regulate the light, but I suspect states can regulate the intentional circumvention of traffic law enforcement.

If you are still unsure, ask the folks in Virginia about radar detectors (I know there's another couple of spots that they are illegal besides Virgina as well).

Steve you take 45 to the belt to 288 or something like that?

I harly ever speed on the belt because I know the cops are awful on it....OR...Fly down the road, brake before the overpass, go by cop at 65 then speed back up. Works like a charm but tough on the brakes.

I wish some of these pelican's knew the beltway. It's a speeders dream.

My form of protection is RD and radar scrambler unit and on the front a stealth bra.

The stealth absorbs the radar and will not send it back until the signal is so close, if you haven't slowed down you deserve the ticket plus the scrambler gives them a confused signal until again they are on top of me before a signal locks in.

In 18 yrs of driving this 911S, I have gotten 1 speeding ticket and it was from laser, the first beep got me at 85 and the second beep got me at 75, the speed limit was 65. The cop wrote me for the first beep at 85 and I told him you have to use the second beep like the state law books says. When I sent the ticket in to the courts I stated to them that I was a reformed speeder and only go 10 mph and the Judge sent me half the money back and reduced the ticket to the second beep.

I have always been entertained by cars that suck on the tailpipe, I go into a radar trap and slow down only to watch the tailpipe sucker get a ticket for speeding but if the guy passes me and enters the trap in front of me they will go thru the trap un-noticed as long as they are no greater than 100 yards in front of me.

These days I'm working inside the beltway off of westheimer, so I take Pearland parkway to the beltway to westheimer. Most of the south side of the beltway isn't bad. Not many places for them to sit, but once you get to the west side, it gets ugly. Usually, there's so much traffic, that it doesn't much matter.

Yeah, it's not unusual to slow down before you crest an overpass. I've been known to do that.

FDA regulates laser. Unless there's some unusual law in TX that no where else seems to have, I don't think laser detectors are illegal.

A couple weeks ago this scenario happened to me. The only difference was that I actually merged to the left, to use the truck in front of me to shield me from the CHP. I knew the CHP was there. Everyone in the pack was moving around 70 mph (65 limit). I let off the throttle to bleed speed, but the truck in front of me braked gently. So I made a slow lane change to the left to put the truck in between the LEO and myself. I heard the V1 go off the entire time as the truck got painted. I think we were doing 67 during that time.

No, I didn't. Hey, if you really can afford the extra gas and the tickets to drive 80, be my guest. Someone said on the Jag forum that a 6 cyl Jag motor will get better gas mileage at 80 than 65. So, I switched over to the instant mileage read out and it was about the same, maybe a half MPG better comparing both on cruise control. It fluctuates between 25 and 27 at both speeds.

There would have to be more controls to the test to really see. Somehow I don't think there is any savings overall. But, to get one ticket would buy the difference for life. So, driving over the speed limit to save money is not an option. But, driving the speed limit in my truck definitely saves gas.

Frankly, by my own observation, the people driving the fastest look to me by their actions in general to be the least trained and prepared to handle the speed. When I first was getting into enduro karts and lapping Willow at an average of 80 MPH I found no need to drive any faster than to got out of traffic's way when street driving.

I still feel that way today. Once you get it all out of your system, driving fast is nothing more than an increased liability. I don't care if the road is straight, the visibility is perfect and there are no other cars, there will be a cop or there might be a blowout of one of your tires.

Why play with fire? It's only because you want to push the envelope.