New Police Radar Guns Monitor Speed and Distracted Drivers

If you’ve ever been caught speeding, you know that one way in which police officers catch speeders is with radar guns that detect excessive rates of speed. Radar guns essentially measure the frequency of the radio waves bouncing off our vehicles while laser guns measure the frequency of light. But, not many know that radar guns also serve another purpose for cops looking to bus dangerous drivers.

How Does It Work?

Devices such as the Sniffer Sleuth II have the ability to detect whether or not a driver is texting while driving. It works by recognizing the frequency of waves your cell phone emits when it’s sending a text or email. It is supposed to be precise enough to differentiate between when a driver is texting and when a passenger is texting.

The device is not without issues. Opponents of this new technology are worried if the devices would infringe on privacy if the radar gun can also read text messages. There is talk of some police departments acquiring this cutting-edge technology. However, there are several questions that remain including whether these devices are admissible in court and whether they will actually help prevent distracted driving crashes.

The Dangers of Distracted Driving

The National Safety Council has reported a 7 percent nationwide increase in traffic accident fatalities in 2016 compared to the previous year and the agency attributes distracted driving to be one of the main causes for this uptick. The NSC also reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. Nearly 330,000 injuries occur every year in the U.S. as a result of texting and driving. One out of four car accidents in the country is caused by texting and driving. In fact, texting while driving is six times more likely to cause an accident than driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Preventing These Accidents

The best way to prevent these crashes is to not drive while distracted by a cell phone. No call, email, social media post or text is more important than your life, the lives of your passengers or others on the roadway. If you have been injured by a texting or distracted driver, please understand that you have legal rights. Report the incident to the police and get a copy of the report. Secure the medical attention you need as soon as possible. Take photographs of the accident scene and names and contact information for witnesses. Contact an experienced Orange County car accident lawyer who can help you better understand your legal rights and options.