Nevertheless, there is something absurd about the public acceptance of a device which seems to be geared toward helping people break the law. There is something even more absurd about the fact that many of us need to use radar detectors in day to day life. What kind of a society are we living in?

It is patently obvious that the basis for the current situation is the absurdity of hidden 'speeding enforcement' whereby law enforcement officers hide from view to encourage people to break the law so that they can then apprehend them. This only starts to make sense when the financial motivations behind the current practice are considered.

When considered in context the use of radar detectors also starts to make sense. If economic imperatives result in unfair methods being used to collect evidence for convictions arising from an unjust law then something is needed to redress the balance. That something is radar detectors.

However there is more to radar detectors then simply protecting people from speeding fines. Motorists in many states may not realise it but radar detectors can protect their lives not just their wallets. In West Australia Neltronics is working hard to implement a Safety Warning System (SWS) in that state. Thus the concept of a SWS is more likely to be familiar to a West Australian motorist then people from other states. For example a Queensland motorist might go into a store and purchase a radar detector completely oblivious to the fact that it contains the SWS technology. This is because the SWS component of the radar detector is completely useless in Queensland as in all other states and in Queensland noone is even trying to do anything about it. It is useless because, although WA appears to be slowly working toward introducing the SWS, no Australian state government has cared enough about its citizens to introduce SWS technology at this time.

The SWS involves having emergency vehicles sending off appropriate signals which are then picked up by all modern radar detectors thus warning motorists that an emergency vehicle is approaching and allowing the emergency vehicle a clear and safe passage to the desired destination. Another example of the use of SWS technology to help prevent crashes is the temporary installation of SWS devices at hazardous locations so that motorists know that there is a stationary hazard and take care as they approach it. For a full discussion of the SWS see the SWS homepage.

Neltronics indicated to the writer during a telephone conversation that they already have the technology they just need the go ahead to have it put into use to save lives. America uses SWS technology. New Zealand has approved the use of the technology. Why is Australia taking so long to follow suit and take advantage of it?