Pros & Cons - Speed Camera Detector

by Vic Hurlstorm on July 3, 2009

Speed Camera Detector

For those of us living in the UK, driving has become risky to our pockets.  All it takes is driving just a little too fast in the direct line of site of a dreaded speed camera, and you’re sure to get fined or points taken off for your mistake.If you are unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and use the same route daily - you’ll probably end up paying for it!For this reason, you should consider obtaining a detection device.

What, exactly, are these? These are devices that can be setup on the side of the road or above the road that can determine just how fast your vehicle is travelling.The owners of the speed cameras cant lose - they either control your driving habits, or earn revenue when you break them!The system isn’t foolproof, and camera detectors can help!

There are a plethors of devices available in the UK.  Currently, there are three types of detectors in use in the UK.A popular type is a system that pings messages to the sending devices, and are radar and laser based.  The returning signal tells the camera just how fast the vehicle is moving.  Other speed detection devices use humps in the road to gauge how fast a car is moving.Ironically enough, if another person drives over the bumps fast, well the camera will probably turn on them.The only other method is one that uses photos to determine the vehicles speed.  The camera takes a picture of the vehicle at one spot and then another picture at a spot further ahead.  The time stamp difference between the photos indicates how fast the vehicle was moving.

Want to know how to beat the possibilities?There are a multitude of different devices available from every retailer to give you the edge. They’ll inform you of a forthcoming camera, so you have the chance to slow down.  And if you tend to drive fast, that’s a big benefit!These devices help you avoid fines, and will hopefully save your license.

If you invest in a good speed camera detector, they will be able to detect radar and laser bursts, and warn you accordingly.  Other GPS based camera detectors access the list of nationally known  locations, tell you if there is a camera inside the box or if it is idle, and warn you with plenty of time to reduce your speed.  Added benefits are units that can detect all types of speed camera traps and even mobile traps set up by the police in varied locations.

An added feature that makes it hard for those wanting to make camera detectors illegal is that many detectors not only warn you of speed traps but also the speed limit on the road you are driving.And for that reason, these devices are driving aids - and not driving offence evasion systems.

It is also a fact that those with detectors are less involved in accidents, so why would anyone want to make them illegal unless there was some concern about losing revenue because of less tickets being issued!Why not give responsible drivers autonomy over their driving aids?

The price of these units vary, but many of the newer systems require a yearly subscription in order to continue to upload and update the latest speeding trap database to your unit.  But if you are a frequent speeder, this may be more than worth while.Always review the products available on the market, as new products are hitting the shelves frequently.

This all sounds well and good, but you may be wondering whether or not these detection devices are legal.Thankfully, in the UK speed detectors are currently legal and wont attract a penalty.  There are, however, efforts being made with such bills as the Road Safety Bill to make it illegal to use speed camera jammers and detectors.

Certainly legislation like this, again, presents a question to the general public on whether or not speeding traps and cameras are being used to actually help the safety of UK drivers or whether or not is it simply a revenue generating scheme.In reality - its a bit of both.At the end of the day, Camera Detectors make you more aware of your environment, this providing a safer roads.

The benefit of a verbal warning from the speed camera detector is that it enables you to keep a visual focus on the driving environment, thus enhancing safety.If we can enable drivers to only focus on the road, then surely this is a benefit!With the explosion of technology, it wont belong before a single device in the car is doing pretty much everything.Without a doubt, the computer within the car will end up doing everything, GPS, Health and Camera Detection!

Regardless of how you look at the overall situation, you can rest assured that looking into a camera detector unit for your vehicle is probably a smart thing to do. Just by knowing where the cameras are and the associated speed limits will save you money, and proabably increase your safety!

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Cadillac XLR Could be Better

by Vic Hurlstorm on July 2, 2009

 

This XLR is one more attempt to take on the mega-luxury brands coming out of Europe and Japan. The XLR is a flashy car, what Cadillac wants to build up. Though it shares the same platform as the current Corvette, the XLR variant is not a simple case of corporate badge engineering. This caddy is more of a country cruising machine than a sports hot rod. This Caddy is a bit of a candy-ass with a softer and more comfortable ride. The XLR places a mellower 4/6-liter, 320-horsepower V8 engine rather than the Vette’s edgier 6/2-liter, 436-hp V8 power plant.

The XLR makes good use of lightweight parts, such as aluminum suspension pieces, that keeps the XLR’s weight pretty reasonable. Also, the standard Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension system thinks for you, adjusting ride smoothness automatically. This ensures generally smooth and responsive maneuvers. The combination of bold, angular styling outside and distinctive eucalyptus-wood cockpit accents gives the XLR a sophisticated presence. The retractable hard top is a great piece of engineering, a great switch between hard top and the soft top. Whenever you pull back the hard top, then you should have a Cadillac XLR windscreen / windblocker / wind deflector.

The Cadillac XLR is a good-to-great car, but it’s not the “standard of the world” as GM likes to proclaim it as. Though its styling and Cadillac badge will appeal to those looking to roll up to the valet in something different from the status quo, the XLR comes up short in terms of maximum performance.  The interior is especially disappointing when compared to its similarly priced rivals from Germany and Great Britain. Furthermore, the XLR doesn’t really offer that much more than a fully loaded Corvette, which is about $20,000 cheaper and 116-hp more powerful.

The XLR is certainly a fast car, but, well, it’s just not sports car fast. Acceleration, though certainly quick, is not as forceful as its corporate cousin. The XLR isn’t notable on the chassis, which rolls to heavily into curves and pitches to far down when breaking fast. Even though this car is fitted with adaptive suspension with split-second control, the XLR is still not up to the handling performance of its European and Japanese rivals. On the open highway, the roadster hits its stride, delivering an undisturbed ride with effortless tracking. If going with the top down, then your wife will thank you for getting a Cadillac XLR windscreen / windblocker / wind deflector.

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Some Truths About Car Maintenance

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Millions of people are fooled into believing the myths by savvy marketing and untrustworthy mechanics. For example, the idea that your vehicle must have regular oil changes every 3,000 miles is an absolute falsehood. Similarly, your technician’s advice to have your radiator flushed once a year is more for his bottom line than for preserving [...]

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Chevy Corvette Superior In Style and Design

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The Classic Car of the Mercedes SLK R170

June 27, 2009

 
 
The marketing brains at Mercedes originated this acryonym from Sporty, Light, and Short (or Kurz in German). The SLK R170 was Mercedes first take at shrinking the popular SL sports car. The SLK 170 was first introduced in 1996 to much fanfare. The SLK was a sales powerhouse, starting with 50,000 units in its first [...]

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Police Traffic Fines and You

June 26, 2009

Always make yourself aware of the different type of police traffic fines as there are many different types in the UK. Know the types of police traffic fines and when they are applied, will result in a safer driving experience and adherng to the law. If you do not understand the types of fines that [...]

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