How accurate are radar and lidar detectors?

Answer 1

I don't like to be without one. They will let you know the cops are near your car with some limitations.

1. Instant on is hard to beat unless the cop can't keep his finger off the button, which is lucky for us as most instant on is checking the car ahead of you.

2. Lidar is even harder to beat, but there are stray lidar sources that will let you know they are checking traffic ahead of you. (see answer 2).

3. Most of the time they have given me time to slow down providing you are not an extreme speeder. They are most useful in speed (trap), zone stings such as a 25mph zone where you should be allowed to go 35mph.

4. Because of instant on and short range radar, you have to be alert and ready to slam on the brakes at the slightest beep of the radar detector for the detector to be most effective. Don't be afraid to slam on the brakes as cops don't notice you hit the brakes unless they are doing reverse lidar. One cop got me by using lidar on my rear license plate after I had gone by and my lidar detector was not a model that detected from the rear. (cop was very sneaky and a prick too).