What is the relative speed of opposite direction moving RADAR compared to the patrol vehicle speed?

The relative speed of opposing-direction moving radar is greater than the speed of the patrol vehicle due to the principle of Doppler effect used in radar technology. When a radar unit is moving towards a target (the patrol vehicle in this case), the speed of the patrol vehicle contributes to the combined speed that the radar measures.

When two objects move towards each other, their speeds are additive when considering the relative motion. So if the patrol vehicle is traveling at a certain speed, the radar speed adds to that speed, resulting in a relative speed that is greater than the speed of the patrol vehicle alone. This measurement is crucial for accurate speed enforcement because it reflects how fast the patrol vehicle appears to be moving relative to the radar system.

This principle is particularly vital in law enforcement applications where tracking and estimating vehicle speeds must be precise. Understanding the relative speeds helps officers calculate the actual speed of incoming vehicles and enforce speed limits effectively.