How to build a speed detector?

[Jan Panteltje]

Heheh. Sounds like driving in Italy. As long as you ignore the lines
on the road (like everyone else) and NEVER look in the rear view
mirror (unless you want to be terrified) you are fine. When in Rome...

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

I was instructed that when driving in Italy one should stop for a light going green,

As that is the time them from the other side are at full speed 'making
the orange'.
JP

 

[Julie]

Safe following distance is 2 sec, so you pick a point and start
counting when the car in front of you passes it. Around here they
have huge dots on a section of one road and signs telling drivers to
maintain a two dot distance. Two dots, however, works out to 4 sec
at the speed limit. I suppose the expected reaction time of idiot
drivers has increased, especially with all the cell phone users.

Following distance time isn't a constant, but is a function of the velocity: 1
sec for each 10 mph. Adjust to kph as necessary.

 

[Julie]

I had an MR2 some years ago, and had a number of accidents and near
accidents
with it, all where I was suddenly faced with a slow-moving car right in
front
of me. I couldn't figure it out, I had a great driving record before
that car.
Was I having too much fun driving a neat car?

Well, after totalling it out (got a nice settlement from the insurance,
at least)
and going back to a good driving record, it slowly dawned on me what had
been happenning. Other people just didn't SEE that car! I don't know if it
was the color (kind of a darker silver) or the low profile, but people were
pulling out of side streets and driveways, RIGHT in front of me.

Other than wrecking a rental on the San Francisco area freeways at the
height of rush
hour, while I was trying to read a map so I didn't pass my exit AGAIN,
I haven't had a wreck in over 15 years, since getting rid of the MR2.

Jon

Silver is a known color that is difficult to discern for vehicles.

 

[Pat Ford]

Silver is a known color that is difficult to discern for vehicles.

yeap but people rear end school busses, they are easy to see, 13' tall
10.5' wide yellow and black, big blinky lights.

In my landrover I was always getting cut off in the summer, winter it never
happened. The only difference, 7' wide 3' tall snowplow on the front.
Size does matter!
Pat

 

[Pat Ford]

<LOL>, I mean, really, <LOL> Maybe at off hours.

snip

On the Don valley parkway you would have to be in reverse to make that
work.

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

http://www.speff.com

I'm assuming that the O/P isn't blind so there is like something else going
on;

Drive within your limits, and your cars, get the best tires you can afford
(snow tires work very well all year round, and work good in rain). In
addition get your brakes serviced every year, the sliders need to slide,
hoses need to hose and the pistons need to work too 8*)

I'm a licensed mechanic (not working in the trade now), every year the
brakes are serviced, this is more then just removing the wheels and looking
at stuff. The pads come out, sliders are greased, some brake fluid is bled
off ( it looks like coffee when it comes out after a year, and goes in
clear). The rears are disassembled, lubed, bled till clear fluid comes out.
Anything less is not worth it.

Pat

 

[Pat Ford]

where did you get that number? maybe in 60's era technology ( big V8s).
Some of the big engines have more problems beening pussy footed ( the rear
of the engine never gets warm enough to break down the sludge and then the
drain back hole plug up. Then the oil leaks down the valve guide and gives a
blue puff when started, and carbons up)

and as for the sub-normal IQ who want to make driving an adventure-

Big assumption, you do know what assume means??

[snip tale of dead, stupid SUV drivers]

This whole thing with high speed driving is nothing but
usury of the most worthless morons in existence. High speed equates
exponential increase in material consumption , road and parts wear-and
fuel consumption- a national display of stupidity and proud of it they
are- pathetic.

I like driving to be an adventure and I certainly not of sub-normal
IQ. If I want to drive fast I will. I won't endanger other road users
while doing so though. It's perfectly possible to drive fast and be
safe, you just have to pick *where* you drive fast. Busy roads in
rainstorms are not the place and SUVs are not the tool.

SUV's can be the tool, if the driver knows his/her limits and the limits of
the vehicle

 

[Ken Smith]

snip

On the Don valley parkway you would have to be in reverse to make that
work.

http://www.speff.com

I'm assuming that the O/P isn't blind so there is like something else going
on;

Drive within your limits, and your cars, get the best tires you can afford
(snow tires work very well all year round, and work good in rain). In
addition get your brakes serviced every year, the sliders need to slide,
hoses need to hose and the pistons need to work too 8*)

I'm a licensed mechanic (not working in the trade now), every year the
brakes are serviced, this is more then just removing the wheels and looking
at stuff. The pads come out, sliders are greased, some brake fluid is bled
off ( it looks like coffee when it comes out after a year, and goes in
clear). The rears are disassembled, lubed, bled till clear fluid comes out.
Anything less is not worth it.

Pat

 

[Julie]

yeap but people rear end school busses, they are easy to see, 13' tall
10.5' wide yellow and black, big blinky lights.

Right, and if it were painted silver, they would be rear-ended a lot more
often.

All things being equal, a silver colored vehicle is a lot more difficult to
discern than most other colors.

 

[Pat Ford]

Right, and if it were painted silver, they would be rear-ended a lot more
often.

I don't know, it seems that the most often heard thing the drivers said as
they were pryed out is that they didn't see the bus. It seems stupidity is
color blind

All things being equal, a silver colored vehicle is a lot more difficult to
discern than most other colors.

Near where I grew up the cops had cars that were almost the same color as
the road. kind of a silver grey, they made lots of money.

 

[Chia Kok Wai]

if you really must...

Bushnell Speedster. The lowest base price is $132.99

I have been getting a lots of reply here.
Maybe I should tell out the whole story.

First accident:
One fine day while driving on the highway at 110 KM/H, it rained suddenly.
(wasnt really suddently, it was already raining at that area some time ago).
I was on the most-right lane on a four lane highway. (its Malaysia,
remember)
I need to make an exit on the left. As I slowly make my way to the left
lane, one super slow MPV was about a hundred meters away. It takes me some
time before I really know that the car is moving at a slow pace, due to poor
visibility and slow judgement. I hit the brake, but it wouldnt slow down. My
car is basically floating already. I try to steer left to avoid collision.
It doesnt work as well. When I finally able to turn, it was already too
late.
Forget about four second rule here. Forget about speed limit here. My
fault - poor judgement and i should have slow down.

Second accident:
Another fine day, this time happends on Sunday. I was driving at about 60
KM/H. Approaching the traffic light behind a car. Suddenly a taxi from the
left side dash out (ignoring the red traffic light). The car in front of me
make an emergency brake. I, way over 2 seconds behind the car did my best to
stop the car. It takes me much too long to figure out that the car is
slowing to zero. (He can still make it, the taxi driver has make his timing
perfectly to avoid accident.) Lucky enough there car behind of me is way too
far away. Else there could have been another chain accident. (very common in
Malaysia).

Third accident:
This has nothing to do with me. I used the wrong word at the first place.
(should be my car not me) I was sleeping actually when the accident happens.
My brother crashed my car. (This is the worst of all - till now my car is
still in the workshop.) Lucky enough no injury to him nor anyone is hit. He
slammed against the road divider.

I reall need some kind of speed detector.
The one that I saw on the internet is Origin b2.
http://www.pollmatrix.com/originb2.htm
Price is £429.95. (enough to pay for a Volvo s40 - downpayment)

Well ...gtg .... thanks people.

 

[Pat Ford]

I have been getting a lots of reply here.
Maybe I should tell out the whole story.

First accident:
One fine day while driving on the highway at 110 KM/H, it rained suddenly.
(wasnt really suddently, it was already raining at that area some time ago).
I was on the most-right lane on a four lane highway. (its Malaysia,
remember)
I need to make an exit on the left. As I slowly make my way to the left
lane, one super slow MPV was about a hundred meters away. It takes me some
time before I really know that the car is moving at a slow pace, due to poor
visibility and slow judgement. I hit the brake, but it wouldnt slow down. My
car is basically floating already. I try to steer left to avoid collision.

Hydroplaning, need better tires, I worked at a dealership ( SAAB, Subaru,
BMW) everyday I would drive ~ 30 different cars many the same model as one I
had already driven, you could really feel the difference the better tires
make in that siting.

It doesnt work as well. When I finally able to turn, it was already too
late.
Forget about four second rule here. Forget about speed limit here. My
fault - poor judgement and i should have slow down.

and had better tires

Second accident:
Another fine day, this time happends on Sunday. I was driving at about 60
KM/H. Approaching the traffic light behind a car. Suddenly a taxi from the
left side dash out (ignoring the red traffic light). The car in front of me
make an emergency brake. I, way over 2 seconds behind the car did my best to
stop the car. It takes me much too long to figure out that the car is
slowing to zero. (He can still make it, the taxi driver has make his timing
perfectly to avoid accident.) Lucky enough there car behind of me is way too
far away. Else there could have been another chain accident. (very common in
Malaysia).

defensive driving, always treat the other driver like he hates you and wants
to crash your car. Always watch for an alternate escape route

Third accident:
This has nothing to do with me. I used the wrong word at the first place.
(should be my car not me) I was sleeping actually when the accident happens.
My brother crashed my car. (This is the worst of all - till now my car is
still in the workshop.) Lucky enough no injury to him nor anyone is hit. He
slammed against the road divider.

Nothing can help if the operator decides to drive into an unmovible mass

glad you are alright, I've seen alot of accidents caused be bad driving or
cars that met minimum safety standards. I had a rear bumper off a buick try
to get me, it had been held on with duct tape!

 

[Activ8]

Following distance time isn't a constant, but is a function of the velocity: 1
sec for each 10 mph. Adjust to kph as necessary.

Hi Julie.

According to whom? I was awake in drivers ed when the told us that 2
sec was a safe distance. That included 55 mph. Your rule would put
the distance at 5.5 sec which I know is a big space and as others
have mentioned, it's only going to leave a gaping hole for someone
to fill. Then you'd have to slow down to get your safe following
distance back.

 

[Activ8]

Silver is a known color that is difficult to discern for vehicles.

Yup. Probably the worst, especially at dusk. And blue cars get
pulled over less often.

 

[Activ8]

yeap but people rear end school busses, they are easy to see, 13' tall
10.5' wide yellow and black, big blinky lights.

In my landrover I was always getting cut off in the summer, winter it never
happened. The only difference, 7' wide 3' tall snowplow on the front.
Size does matter!
Pat

That's why I want a monster truck - so I can just roll over top of
'em when the piss me off. Naturally, I'll also nees a M2 .50 cal to
deal with law enforcement.

 

[Activ8]

I don't know, it seems that the most often heard thing the drivers said as
they were pryed out is that they didn't see the bus. It seems stupidity is
color blind


Near where I grew up the cops had cars that were almost the same color as
the road. kind of a silver grey, they made lots of money.

Near where I live, a cop was suspended for passing a school bus as
it was discharging kinders, red blinkies flashing, swing out stop
sign and all that.

 

[Activ8]

That's just dumb- the damned engine is not going to last any amount of
mileage driving at those high speeds. I will never push mine above 3000
RPM- and as for the sub-normal IQ who want to make driving an adventure-
just take another route. It was just last week when I was returning home
during a very heavy rainstorm, the road drainage was very bad, and I was
already planing at 45MPH- so that was my top speed- and I was being
passed at relative velocities of what had to be 30MPH by a bunch of
clueless SUV drivers. Well- at least two them are now ex-members of the
living- 15 minutes down the road, two of them had broad sided some 0MPH
trees, which don't like to move for anything, roofs crushed, lifeless
corpses inside. This whole thing with high speed driving is nothing but
usury of the most worthless morons in existence. High speed equates
exponential increase in material consumption , road and parts wear-and
fuel consumption- a national display of stupidity and proud of it they
are- pathetic.

ROFLMAO - good verbiage

 

[Activ8]

What are you carying on about?
200km/h is nothing....
A kid can do that (I did).
hehe
In that time it was still legal here...
Germany autobahn has some nice fast driving too.
Dunno what the max is, perhaps 300km/h?
(Over to them).
JP

The autobahn I took between Giessen and Frankfurt was 100 kph ~ 60
mph.

 

[Ralph & Diane Barone]

I reall need some kind of speed detector.
The one that I saw on the internet is Origin b2.
http://www.pollmatrix.com/originb2.htm
Price is £429.95. (enough to pay for a Volvo s40 - downpayment)

Well ...gtg .... thanks people.

You do realize that most inexpensive speed detectors will just measure your
velocity, since the majority of the objects around you are standing still.
Taking time out to aim said detector at the vehicle in front of you will
only result in you driving into one of the hundreds of stationary objects
around you. As other posters have stated:

Get good tires.
Don't speed.
Keep your brakes serviced.

and if you still can't avoid collisions, consider public transit.

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

You do realize that most inexpensive speed detectors will just measure your
velocity, since the majority of the objects around you are standing still.
Taking time out to aim said detector at the vehicle in front of you will
only result in you driving into one of the hundreds of stationary objects
around you. As other posters have stated:

Get good tires.
Don't speed.
Keep your brakes serviced.

and if you still can't avoid collisions, consider public transit.

Or at least put in some hours of PROFESSIONAL driver training. An
instructor may be able to point out things that can be improved
(scanning rather than fixing on objects, maintaining awareness of
what's around you in case you have to avoid someone else and so on).
With experience and by developing good habits, almost anyone of normal
abilities can learn to drive safely.

Recently I was driving an old friend home, taking my time (maybe
35mph), going along the right-hand lane of a 4-lane non-
controlled-access road (Lakeshore Road) that has a lot of businesses
and other clutter along it. It was in the evening and traffic was
light. A guy in an SUV came up to the exit from a strip mall on the
right and didn't, as they often do (grrrr..), look like he wasn't
going to stop, then stop quickly at the exit, but kept going towards
my passenger door. Being aware (subconsciously, from scanning) that
there was nobody in the lane to my left, I hit the horn and swerved
(without braking) into that lane in a split-second and avoided a
collision. I looked back and the SUV had slid to a stop with its
bumper past the middle of the right lane (I'm not sure he ever saw me,
maybe just reacted to the horn). There's no thinking in such a
situation, it has to happen instinctively, sort of like a baseball
player- the plays and the moves have been practiced for real or in his
head so many times, that hopefully the right thing just "happens" when
the moment of truth comes. It also helps to have a car that listens
when you tell it to do something (a decent car in good condition), but
it's possible to drive defensively even in a crapbox.

Robert (Bob) Pease has written and self-published an inexpensive ~500
page book on driving- aimed at new drivers, which Amazon.com carries.
ISBN: 0965564819 I've never read it, but it's written by an
electronics guy and is probably helpful (reviews are a bit "mixed").
;-)

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[Tim Auton]

Germany autobahn has some nice fast driving too.
Dunno what the max is, perhaps 300km/h?

Last time I was in Germany (a few years ago mind) some had limits and
some didn't have limits at all.

Most German cars come with a 250kph / 155mph speed limiter though.


Tim