Okay I've seen this sign along the interstate tons of times in various states, especially in Virginia. But how do they do this? Do they actually have aircraft monitoring the highway for speeders? It seems like a complicated thing to do.
If you haven't seen the sign here's a picture (not mine):
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://static.flickr.com/51/170043315_81c2f972ea_m.jpg&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/allwork/page2/&h=212&w=240&sz=31&hl=en&start=12&tbnid=snwW_0W0fS2fGM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=110&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspeed%2Benforced%2Bby%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-US%26sa%3DX
2006-10-27 17:29:06 · 8 answers · asked by Jessica - AKA - Carolina Girl 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Other - United States
When they do do it, it is done by measuring how long your car travels between two reference points, usually lines painted on the road surface. I think it is rarely used, a plane or helicopter is expensive to operate, plus you need officers on the ground too. The signs are up mainly as a "psychological thing".
2006-10-27 17:42:48 · answer #1 · answered by Julie A 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They can do it several ways. It all depends on the technology available. The easiest way is to just have a helicopter watching the road. The road will be marked some known distance. They can simply time him through that distance. Divide that distance by the time and voila... you have their speed. If it is over the speed limit, they can radio a nearby car and they will be pulled over. The other way they can do it is through the use of lasers or long range radar guns. Then they just radio a car and have them get pulled over.
2006-10-27 17:34:40 · answer #2 · answered by Just another 2D character online 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you pay attention to the paint markings on the side of the highways, you will notice markings (lines, stripes, x's) every 1/2 mile, or mile even. The plane has the ability to time your vehicle over a know distance (using the paint marks for distance) and translate that to miles per hour.
2006-10-27 17:42:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The high way is marked out in distance. Using a stop watch a person in a plane or chopper can figure out how fast your going with a claculator. Take the time it takes to travel a set distance.
2006-10-27 17:50:45 · answer #4 · answered by blue58chevy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what they attempt to do is measure the time it takes for you to drive one one painted mark on the road to another. I've never seen any planes doing this though. I think it's fairly easy to challenge though because it's hard to watch from a small plane, and then there has to be an officer on the ground watching you too.
2006-10-27 17:33:54 · answer #5 · answered by mrbadmood 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably helicopters - since they can just easily stay hoovering in one spot. and easily go forward 1 place and backwards to the other unlike a plane where you have to go in a large circle and constantly forwards.
they see someone speeding and tell a cop i would guess
2006-10-27 17:31:26 · answer #6 · answered by Dirty Pony, I Can't Wait to Hose You Down 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes by helicopter that has equipment that will help them take various reading of your traveling speed with 100% acuracy.
2006-10-27 17:35:35 · answer #7 · answered by wiseornotyoudecide 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I want to know how they are going to pull you over and give the ticket
2006-10-27 17:32:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋