Today’s technologically savvy world sees new and innovative items brought to market each and every day, all of which are intended to make our lives easier and more efficient. So, it shouldn’t come as a shock that new, creative tools are being developed for law enforcement too. One of the newest, and the one that may affect a majority of our readers, will be the release of the new police radar guns.
First a little history. Radar guns have been around for quite some time now. They were invented shortly after WWII, even before the construction of the national interstate highway system in the 1950s. Decatur Electronics produced the first radar guns used by the police in 1954. The police welcomed this innovative device as the newly opened interstates were proving to be a temptation for drivers to pretend they were on a racetrack.
Distracted Driving Statistics
Today, driving presents even more hazards. Near the top of the list of dangerous activities while driving is texting while driving. Texting requires your attention – attention that should be focused on the road, not on your phone. Check out these alarming facts provided by various sources and posted by https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving:
- As of December 2012, 171.3 billion texts were sent in the United States
- Texting takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. That’s enough time to cover the length of a football field
- 25% of teens respond to text messages while they drive, and 20% of teens admit they have full, extended text message conversations while driving
- At any given moment, 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or texting while driving
- Your chances of being involved in an auto accident increase by three times when using a cell phone or texting while driving
The above points prove that texting while driving is dangerous. A new device will soon hit the market that should help cut down on the amount of texting while driving. According to an article released by the Virginian-Pilot, a company called ComSonics is creating a radar gun device that will help law enforcement crack down on drivers who text while driving. It’s based on a similar technology used by cable repairmen that shows where a cable is damaged. The “gun” looks for frequencies that leak during transmission.
Here’s how the new device will work: it’s all about frequencies… a text message will emit different frequencies than phone calls or data and as a result won’t be confused with someone merely making a call. The law enforcement officer will point his radar gun at passing cars and in addition to knowing if the vehicle is observing the posted speed limit, the officer will also know if the driver is texting.
This new radar gun is not available yet but is reportedly close to being released. We mention this as a warning for all to change your habits now and avoid costly tickets down the road, and more importantly to avoid injuring others on the road. Rest assured that this device will enter the marketplace and if you are still texting while driving, well, let’s just say you were warned! Stay safe and don’t text while driving.
Call Carey Leisure Carney for Legal Services in Clearwater, FL
Contact us at (727) 799-3900 for a free no-obligation consultation and case evaluation.