Radar detectors have been commercially available and working to keep motorists ticket-free since the early 1950s because the science of how radar detectors work to alert drivers to the use of radar speed enforcement WORKS. K40 Electronics has been in the radar detector business for over 40 years, so the need for good radar detectors has a long history. That history has everything to do with saving motorists the hassle and expense of receiving a speeding ticket. Does every driver need a radar detector? Contrary to popular belief, it’s not drivers who speed every time they get behind the wheel that make up the majority of people receiving speeding tickets. Most speeding tickets issued are to everyday drivers who were speeding unintentionally. Ask yourself if any of the below have ever happened to you. Accidental Speeding – You either didn’t notice that your speed was above the speed limit or didn’t realize that the speed limit had been reduced. Distracted While Driving – Kids in the backseat, touch screens, phone calls, etc., take your attention away from the driving environment occasionally, and it’s easy for your speed to creep up without you realizing it. Speed Traps – You come over the top of a hill or around a curve and see a police officer on the side of the road. Your heart accelerates as you check your speed to see if you are speeding. If any of the above apply, you need a radar detector. A radar detector alerts you to police radar BEFORE the officer can clock your speed. It brings your attention back to your speedometer so that you can adjust your speed if necessary and avoid that speeding ticket. Why do police spend so much time on speed enforcement? We want law enforcement out on the roads to stop the reckless drivers who are weaving in and out of traffic at high rates of speed and putting themselves and everyone else at risk. I think we all agree on that. Speed enforcement today is about more than road safety. It’s about……$$$. Writing speeding tickets is essential to revenue generation for cities, towns, villages, and municipalities. They pay for salaries, equipment, etc. Revenues from traffic violations are part of every municipality budget and are expected to be maintained or increased annually. What happens if I get a speeding ticket? First, there is the cost of the speeding ticket itself. Depending on where you are driving when you get tickets and how much over the speed limit you were going, the speeding ticket alone could be between $200.00 [...]

K40 Electronics designs its radar detectors to be as sensitive as "you" want. No two drivers are alike. Some drivers want maximum range and sensitivity from their radar detectors. They want to know if an officer is 5 miles down the road, and they don't mind dealing with false alerts that can be caused by increased sensitivity. Other drivers want their radar detector to alert them to the presence of police radar, with enough time to avoid a speeding ticket, but don't want to deal with the false alerts that have many drivers asking the question… Why is my radar detector constantly going off? Many factors can contribute to a "noisy" radar detector. Mostly, it's the increased use of non-police K-band radar frequencies and the radar detector's ability to filter out those signals. Things that set off radar detectors: Automatic door openers Security systems In-vehicle safety systems such as Collision Avoidance and Blind Spot Monitoring Traffic Flow Sensors that monitor the flow of traffic Construction vehicles Semi-tractors Railroad Crossings Can I minimize false alerts and still get a great range for police using radar guns? The answer today is YES! A great radar detector allows you to change settings to minimize the alerts from non-police radar (falses) while still providing solid protection and warnings of actual police radar in use. If you want "extreme range," it's available, but those detectors may experience more false alerts. In today's radar detector market, there is a product for everyone, from the enthusiast who wants maximum range to the everyday driver who wants only to hear his radar detector when it's an actual threat. K40 radar detectors are versatile enough to serve any driver, and Automoblog agrees. "The K40 Platinum100 radar detector is, in my experience, one of the best on the market when it comes to long-range detection. The Platinum100 is on par with both the Uniden R3 and R7 in the long-range detection department, even outperforming the mighty Escort MAX 360c on a few occasions with Ka-band at a distance." How does a K40 radar detector reduce false alerts? With K40, there are several ways you can reduce false alerts while still having plenty of time to slow down to avoid a speeding ticket: Increase or decrease the sensitivity for each police radar band used, X, K, and Ka-band, or turn them off via the menu settings if they're not used in your area. Use the Mark to Mute (MM) feature to silence known GPS locations that are non-police radar, and you'll never hear them again, like the "Your Speed Is" [...]

The short answer is "no." Although windshield-mounted radar detectors are widely popular, many drivers prefer the stealth installation of a hidden radar detector for various reasons. When K40 released the FIRST-EVER custom-installed radar detector in 1983, it came with a "control head" which housed the radar alert LEDs and slide switches to control the detector and provide visual alerts. As the interior of luxury vehicles became more complex and beautiful, K40 became more interested in upholding the integrity of those intricate interiors. In 1988, K40 introduced the most uncomplicated, discreet "display" in the category… 1 or 2 LEDs… that's it!  The system tells drivers everything they need to know to avoid tickets through the hidden speaker and LEDs. The hidden speaker gives the driver audible alerts to approaching speed traps by announcing the exact radar band the officer is using, and the system will also inform radar gun location by saying "Front Ka-Band," 'Rear X-Band," etc. if a front and rear radar detection system is installed, like the K40 Platinum360. Simultaneously with the voice alerts, the LEDs will flash. Typically the left LED will indicate a front radar threat, and the right LED a rear radar threat (if the front and rear system is installed.) These LEDs will flash more rapidly the closer the driver gets to the police radar gun. K40 clients love that the K40 system is entirely stealthy in their vehicle, so they only know it's there when they need it! "Loving my K40! I picked the K40 because of its ability to be installed stealthily inside and out. I love my K40 because it works like a champ and keeps me alert about where the police are! An essential tool for anyone who spends any time behind the wheel." Jeffery S. – Duluth, GA Today, specialty installers work with drivers to find the perfect place to integrate the K40 display LEDs. Why should I hide my radar detector in my car? You want to maintain the aesthetics of your vehicle interior. By integrating the LEDs into your vehicle's dash/cluster area, you only see them when an alert is present. Neither passengers nor police will know that you have the system installed. Radar detectors are illegal to use in some areas. Custom-installed (hidden) radar detectors would be a good choice for any driver who drives where radar detectors are illegal. In the United States, that is the state of Virginia, Washington D.C., and all military installations. In Canada, radar detectors are only LEGAL in three provinces; British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Some states prohibit hanging anything [...]

Yes, it will! The Evolution is here and a K40 Radar Detectors and Laser Defusers will work in any electric vehicle. Did you know that electric cars appeared long before the earliest gasoline cars? The first known appearance of an electric vehicle was in the early 1830s in Scotland, but because the batteries were not rechargeable, it could only travel about 1.5 miles at 4 mph, then It needed new batteries. This is not very practical. In 1859 the first rechargeable batteries became available, but it wasn’t until 1893 that a viable EV was shown at the Chicago World’s Fair. It was a front-wheel drive, 4 horsepower car(riage) with a reported top speed of 20 mph, using 20 battery cells that needed recharging every 50 miles. Electric cars and hybrids are the fastest-growing automotive segment thanks to decades of technological improvements. Since the first-speed limit law in 1901, and the first radar detector in 1958, many drivers have chosen to equip their vehicles with police radar detectors to avoid speeding tickets. Many electric and hybrid vehicles on the road today are equipped with radar detectors and laser jammers. All-electric, high-performance, K40-equipped vehicles and their top speeds! 2022 Tesla Model S This 2022 Tesla Model S has a top speed of 155-199 mph and is fully protected by a custom-installed K40 radar and laser system installed by iNNovative Concepts of Wilbraham, MA. 2022 Mercedes Benz EQS 580 This 2022 Mercedes Benz EQS 580 has a top speed of 210 mph and is fully protected by a custom-installed K40 radar and laser system installed by Neal’s Custom Installations of West Palm Beach, FL. 2022 Lucid Air Dream Edition This 2022 Lucid Air Dream Edition has a top speed of 166 mph and is fully protected by a custom-installed K40 radar and laser system by Think Cartronics of Houston, TX. Learn more about the installation of a K40 Platinum 360 front and rear radar system and K40 Laser Defuser Optix on a 2022 Lucid Air Dream Edition on our Dealer Spotlight for Think Cartronics. 2022 Ford Mustang Mach E This 2022 Ford Mustang Mach E has a top speed of 124 mph and is fully protected by a custom-installed K40 radar and laser system by Rolling Tones of Charlotte, NC. As technology for vehicles evolves, including the rise and popularity of electric cars, K40 radar detectors and Laser Defusers have kept pace and work in every vehicle manufactured today. According to K40’s Tech Manager, Justin Vallo: “Though EVs are sophisticated machinery, with an expert installation, the K40 systems seamlessly integrate into these [...]

The truth about how they work, where they are, and how you can protect yourself from these tickets. Although red light and speed cameras pose a unique threat to some drivers in some areas, the following are some facts and tools that can help drivers identify the risk in their area and help avoid these revenue-generating machines. K40 Electronics has extensively researched this specific ticketing form and engineered our products with options to minimize a driver’s risk without requiring a subscription-based, downloadable database that needs frequent updating. By law, these cameras must be well marked, giving drivers advanced warning of their use in the area. Still, the facts show that these cameras generate substantial revenue for some cities, municipalities, and states, and their use will likely be maintained or increased. How do red light cameras work? Red light cameras do not use radar. According to the City of Chicago, which has one of the highest concentrations of these: “The red-light enforcement high-resolution digital cameras are integrated with the traffic signal system and use 3D cameras to detect vehicles approaching the intersection. When the cameras identify a vehicle entering the intersection after the signal has turned red, they record still photographs and video footage of the vehicle, including the rear license plate." While most municipalities will site that these cameras have been put in place to minimize “red-light running” and avoid crashes, statistics state that 95% of all tickets issued at a red-light camera are for not coming to a complete stop before making a right-hand turn. Learn more about how red light cameras rake in revenue on our previous blog post. An important thing to note is that these tickets (which you receive in the mail) do not count against a driver’s license or increase insurance premiums, and municipalities are playing the odds that most drivers will just pay the fine ($50 – $100), making these cameras an essential part in their revenue streams. With K40’s Mark to Alert feature on its Platinum Series Radar Detectors, a driver can easily “mark” the location of the red-light cameras they choose to be alerted to, such as ones where the driver might make a right-hand turn. How do speed cameras work? Speed cameras use radar and video. According to the City of Chicago: “The camera system uses a 3D tracking radar, high-resolution digital camera, and high-definition video camera. The 3D radar identifies any vehicle traveling faster than the posted speed limit and triggers both the camera and the video which capture the event. The first image shows the vehicle driving in [...]