If you have a tendency of speeding while driving, investing in a radar detector may end up saving you a lot of money. Millions of speeding tickets are issued every year to drivers who exceed the speed limit. By adding a radar detector to your vehicle, you can help track police detection and slow down when needed.

An average of about 40,000,000 speeding tickets are issued, each year, in the United States. The value of imposed fines may account for a considerable percentage of the budget for a District or State.

Using a Radar Detector helps prevent the possibility from getting stopped for speeding. They're designed to let you know when radar frequencies are being used on the road. Your awareness lets you adjust speed to meet speed-limit requirements.

Most Radar Detectors can detect virtually all frequencies currently being used by traffic agencies. As traffic agencies may upgrade their radar bands, it's advisable to purchase a new detector every 2 or 3 years. A few high-end models have upgradeable circuits so you can add new protection, as it becomes available.

Consider the following features when purchasing a Radar Detector.

Most Radar Detector models can detect frequencies along the X, K and Ka bands. Entry models may only detect signals from a limited portion of the Ka radar band. Advanced models may have Wideband detection, allowing more Ka frequencies to be detected.

How soon can this Radar Detector detect when radar frequencies are being used on the road?

Most entry models have a sensitivity range of about 1 mile. Advanced models may go up to 3 miles. This is very important because, at 60 miles per hour, you detect radar signals only 1 minute ahead with an entry model and up to 3 minutes ahead with an advanced model. An advanced model gives you more time to react and adjust your speed.

Sometimes, traffic agents may use low-power radar to compromise your detector's sensitivity. This can reduce alert time as much as 60%. You'll have less than 30 seconds to react with an entry model and up to 75 seconds to react with an advanced model.

This feature deals with something known as Frequency Pollution.

Selectivity deals with the ability to filter out non-police radar frequencies from other radar frequencies that may be present along the roadway. There are many common devices that can emit X and K band frequencies. Many car alarms and remote garage door openers may use X band frequencies. Often, these devices can trigger false alarms on many radar detectors.

Most models can adequately select police radar frequencies. Advanced models offer greater selectivity, offering higher filtration of confounding frequencies and less possibility of false alarms.

In addition to radar, patrols may target a car using laser signals. These are beams of light that send out pulses to help determine a vehicle's speed. Traffic agents like to use laser tracking because it has a narrower width than radar frequencies and is less likely to be sensed by most radar detectors.

At this time, lasers account for less than 10% of the speed-tracking devices used by traffic enforcement agencies. While this number may seem small, do you want to be caught by one of them?

Almost all Radar Detectors can detect most current laser types, including ProLaser (I, II, III) and others. Advanced models have very sophisticated signal processors to assure that any laser signal that's detected will not be a false alarm.

VASCAR is short for Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder. This is a computer device that determines a vehicle's speed using two reference points. One of those points may be the white stripes on a road. Traffic officials sitting at some point along a highway may commonly use VASCAR. Because no frequencies are emitted, it is not detectable by a radar detector.

That's no typing error. Highway and Traffic Enforcement agencies have a lot at stake if radar detectors are in use. As such, several areas (check the law in your location) ban the use of radar detectors and use special frequencies, VG-2, to detect whether your car has a radar detector in use.

Many models have built-in VG-2 Cloaking devices. While this sounds like something out of science-fiction, it actually cloaks your radar detector from being detected by VG-2 signals.

A radar detector can only be effective if you are made aware when radar or laser frequencies are being used. Many models provide visual (LED or LCD) alerts and audio alerts (Synthesized Voice or Sonic Beeps). Visual alerts may allow control over brightness (for varying light situations) and may also display text. Audio alerts usually have a loudness adjustment control or selectable mute.

Advanced models may offer even more unique features to assure that you are made aware of the signal. If you respond to an audio alert within a certain time (usually under 5 seconds), the alert will stop or be repeated at a lower volume that you may have selected. If you respond after 5 seconds, the alert will be repeated at full volume.

Most radar detectors have a switch that allows selection of city or highway driving modes. City streets and highways have different characteristics and speed detection techniques may vary. This feature allows optimal protection wherever you are.

While some models may be battery powered, most are connected to a power source in your vehicle. Some may connect to the cigarette-lighter plug while others may have a special mount that may require installation.

With the exception of a few areas, the uses of Radar Detection devices are legal when used in cars or light trucks (under 10,000 pounds). Radar Detectors are prohibited, under a Federal Highway Administration regulation, for use in vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds.

As an electronic device, a Radar Detector is an extremely useful tool to help drivers enjoy the freedom and joy of vehicular travel.

Drivers should still act responsibly and make sure that they take sufficient rest periods to maintain a high-level of alertness.