In 1974, a federal law was passed capping highway speeds at 55 mph. Despite what most people may think, the law was not passed to keep our highways safe. It was in response to the 1973 Gas Crisis and was designed for fuel conservation purposes. Despite marginal at best fuel conservation and gas prices stabilizing in the mid seventies, the 55 mph speed limit was kept in place due to its perceived safety aspects.
Naturally, technology was created for law enforcement that enabled them to measure the speed of moving vehicles. The radar gun was born. Radar guns are nothing more than electronic devices that emit radio waves in wavelength bands that can measure speed using the Doppler-effect. Like sound waves, radio waves have a certain frequency, and a number of oscillations per unit of time.
As with any technology created for a particular purpose, an antithesis and equally effective technology must be created. Hence, the RADAR DETECTOR was born. Hey, what would good be without the evil? Who would “The Bandit” be without Buford T. Justice? The creation of the 55 mph speed limit gave rise to the biggest cat and mouse game since NASCAR drivers ran moonshine from county to county.
Most of today's radar detectors detect signals across a variety of wavelength bands – usually X, K and. Among the most popular radar detectors and favorite among speeders is the Valentine One, also know as a V1. What makes the Valentine One different from many other radar detectors is its ability to warn against front and rear radar. This is useful when law enforcement is on the move and uses rear pacing techniques.
Another popular radar detector is the Beltronics STi Driver which also tracks all radar and laser band coverage. An important feature with the STi Driver is the fact that it does not omit a signal that lets law enforcement know that you are using radar detection technology. This is extremely important in states that forbid the use of any radar detection or jamming devices. Not only would you get a ticket, you would get your equipment confiscated.
Oddly enough, right after the time rocker Sammy Hagar released his most famous song, “I Can’t Drive 55”, states started fighting the federal law and congress granted states the ability to raise speed limits to 65 mph on rural interstate highways. It wasn’t until 1995 that the Federal Government granted full authority to the States to determine speed limits for themselves.
So if it weren’t for the 1973 Gas Crisis and the Federal Government creating a speed limit to help conserve fuel, “Speeding” would never exist. And the radar detector would have never been invented for wide public use.
Also, the Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy (Cannonball Run) would never been established had it not been for this law, giving birth to the modern day American Road Rally. A big THANK YOU is in order.
Again, radar detection equipment does not give excuses to drive irresponsibly. It’s one thing to make good time on highways, but it’s another thing to be unsafe.
