Warning Devices: Types & Applications

Hello!

Are there any experiences with warning devices ( http://www.valentine.de/ ) or would you consider installing one?

Unfortunately, it is powerless against many measurement methods ( http://www.radardetector-shop.de/html/informationen.html ).

Hello,

Speed limits at hazardous locations and/or residential areas are undoubtedly beneficial when they prevent reckless driving that endangers others.
Unfortunately, I've also noticed speed cameras in places that are clearly not dangerous areas, nor places where speeding drivers could pose a risk to anyone, aside from perhaps trees.
The responsible regulatory bodies not only engage in harassment, but sometimes also line their own pockets.
In the Middle Ages, so-called "robber knights" were responsible for "raising funds" for local lords by robbing travelers and the local population of their possessions. Today, they are called something else.

Such nonsensical actions do not contribute to road safety. Rather, they tend to irritate many drivers, leading to increased sales of warning devices under the motto "all the more reason," and the "educational effect" of the corresponding penalties is reversed.

Since warning devices can never have a 100% success rate, I believe the safest and most cost-effective way to drive on the road is to drive proactively and adjust your speed appropriately to the traffic conditions.
Devices that serve as a "blank check" for those unwilling to improve put them on the same level as robbers: Both disregard the well-being of their fellow human beings.

It's important to protect your own belongings, respect the lives of others, and be aware of thieves – this hasn't changed in the last 500 years. In the past, thieves were hanged or, in less serious cases, had their hands cut off.

Best regards, Rainer.

I've also thought about it. I originally come from the Netherlands, where it was still allowed until recently. Here in Germany, I believe the penalty is much higher if you drive too fast and get caught. This is because you are intentionally driving too fast. In the Netherlands, there is a fine for "radar detector detectors" .

I would take the whole risk if it has any benefit. Since in my area (Baden-Württemberg) there are almost only speed cameras with flash units, or fixed boxes with loops in the street, I can forget about it. In the Netherlands, almost exclusively radar is used (usually laser outside, but rarely).

My experience with these devices in the Netherlands: 90% false alarms. You only realize if it's a real speed camera just before it's too late, depending on your speed. Different devices were similar (Quintezz, Stinger, etc.), either built-in or attached to the window with a suction cup.

I managed to get some "good" devices from the Netherlands, but I stopped using them since the new law came into effect. My father still uses them, but he's taking the risk (he only drives on country roads and highways, as there are too many false positives in the city).

Advantage of using system D in Germany compared to the Netherlands: it's positioned to be visible from the front. This means you're more likely to see the device, similar to how it's done in the Netherlands. If it's placed behind an object, that object will obstruct the lens. In the Netherlands, you only see it when you're already past it.

Conclusion: I've decided to just let it be. Where it's justified, I won't drive too fast, and where it's just a money grab, I'll see if I can spot any cameras. So far, in 5 years and about 200,000 km, I have 0 points, despite driving fairly quickly (though I do occasionally have to brake hard).

Hi,

There are already enough ways for PDA navigation systems to incorporate information about fixed speed cameras. It's possible to precisely configure how far in advance a warning is given before the 'accident hotspot.' It works 100% - I've been using it very successfully for a year.

Regards,
Arne.

@arne
Okay, that's a legal solution. But if, for example, I'm driving too fast by 5-10 km/h due to an emergency in the middle of the night on a deserted country road, it only warns me about fixed speed cameras (which are, admittedly, usually quite visible if there isn't a warning sign beforehand). So, you still can't drive with complete peace of mind, because there might be a radar trap set up.

I think the fixed speed cameras are great, but I'm worried about the mobile speed cameras. Even with a radar detector, you only get a warning for radar devices and possibly laser devices.

Unfortunately, this has also been illegal since approximately 2005. So, if you're caught using a PDA navigation system with a speed camera plugin that the police can detect, you'll receive a significant number of points (I mean 5) and a hefty fine. However, you have the option to hide it on the PDA or quickly perform a hard reset if you ever find yourself in that situation.

Arne.

It is illegal to carry a device that is ready for operation, ...

Ich muss halt nur eben die SD-Karte seitlich rausziehen. Geht ratz-fatz. Ohne diese Karte fährt mein PNA gar nicht erst wieder hoch. Ready.

By the way, the POI (Point of Interest) warnings can alert you not only to fixed speed cameras but also to mobile ones, even if there isn't actually one present at that location most of the time. This can be quite annoying.

However, the best approach is still to follow the rules.

Hati wrote:

It is punishable by law to carry a device that is ready for operation, ..... By the way, the POI (Point of Interest) warnings can alert you not only to fixed speed cameras but also to mobile ones, even if there isn't actually one present at that location most of the time. This can be quite annoying.

I didn't understand that. Can he enter the points of interest (POIs) himself based on speed camera notifications?

If you register every location where a speed camera has ever been, it's not very useful and just causes unnecessary alerts. Over a 40 km stretch, there are (as far as I know) speed cameras at 10 different locations. Even if only one camera is active, I'll be falsely warned 9 out of 10 times. And what happens if someone gets creative with the placement?

However, I don't find the real-time traffic updates reliable either. When a traffic incident is reported on my route (which happens about once a month, despite there usually being at least one incident per week), it's often already cleared by the time I get there.