[sci.electronics] Kentucky deploys fake robocops

commgrp@silver.bacs.indiana.edu (04/21/88)

[to rec.autos, sci.electronics]

                 KENTUCKY DEPLOYS FAKE ROBOCOPS 

_Popular Communications_ magazine (May 1988, p. 73), in an article 
entitled "Kentucky Uses Unmanned Radar to Slow Traffic Down," reports: 

"Kentucky's congressional representatives...overcame an FCC veto...to 
sponsor a two-year radar demonstration program...

After a nine-vehicle pileup last June, Kentucky State Police installed 
unattended radar units on Death Hill south of Covington.  These units 
sent out radar signals but did not measure speed...(and) set off radar 
detectors whose beeps... would remind drivers of dangerous road 
conditions...  Traffic on this hilly winding highway slowed down.

 ...FCC ruling turned off all of Kentucky's unattended radar units... 
The FCC cited several regulations which these units violated... ruled 
that radar units should be attended in case they break down or 
interfere with other frequencies.

 ...Senators...found a loophole in FCC regulations...also got federal 
sanction to test the units for two years.  The FCC stated it would 
have no problem with the units transmitting radar, if they did 
something else.  Anything else.  Therefore, the manufacturer could 
modify the units so they could have another function, such as counting 
cars.

 ...During this demonstration project, radar could be used 
continuously on I-75 between Fort Mitchel and...the Ohio River.

The same article reports that a study has shown that "Radar detector 
users have over 25% fewer accidents per mile driven, compared to 
nonusers."

--

Frank
reid@gold.bacs.indiana.edu