You may be thinking to buy a radar detector and wondering whether they're even legal. You'll be happy to know that in the U.K. they are completely legal. You are breaking no law by having one of these in your car and using it. In fact, they're looked upon positively by some in law enforcement because they actually help slow traffic down and thus prevent accidents from happening.

In a MORI poll, users of radar detectors were found to have fewer accidents than those who do not use them. They are reminded by the signal to pay attention and drive more carefully.

If you live somewhere else besides the U.K., check the laws where you reside, as not every country looks as favorably on these devices as does the U.K. Speed limits are important ways of regulating traffic, and a radar detector should never be used to circumvent these limits.

Don't get careless and speed just because you have one of these in your car. However, laws should be fair, and it isn't fair when the speed limit changes without a sign posted, perhaps dropping from 60 to 40 within one block. It isn't fair when the sign changes so quickly that you can't slow down in time and so you find yourself in violation of the law without ever having had a chance to change your speed to the correct one.

It's for everyone's good to have one of these machines in your car to let you know something like that is ahead so that you can safely slow down and maybe prevent an accident. They realize this in Spain and actually have radar sensitive traffic lights. You can get through many green lights if you're going at the correct speed; but if you're in violation, the light will sense that and turn red.

This is, of course, a very good way to regulate traffic and prevent accidents, but a very bad way to bring in revenue. Thus, most other countries have not followed Spain's example. The legality of radar detectors has not gone untested in Great Britain. There was some question about it in 1949 and 1969.

However, it was found that if radar is only being used to sense something and is not being used in order to obtain or send information, it is fine. The courts didn't want it being used as some kind of spy communication. In 1998 the Queen's Bench Divisional Court made this quite clear.

You can purchase, install, and use the Snooper or Radarscout devices with absolutely no fear of penalty. And, given its benefits, you very well may choose to make this investment for your safety and that of others.