Quebec drivers might want to think twice before slamming the gas pedal. Believe it or not, police can clock your speed even when their patrol cars are in motion.
While many drivers fall into the habit of only slowing down when they see an officer tucked away on a backstreet or on the side of the highway, that method is not entirely foolproof.
The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) recently shared a TikTok video explaining how their speed radar technology works. In the clip, which has racked up over a million views in just a few days, Sergeant Jean-Raphaël Drolet breaks down how the speedometer device, (often called a radar gun) can accurately measure a car’s speed whether the police vehicle is stationary or in motion.
“When I’m driving, thanks to some very complicated mathematical calculations — you know, the kind that would even baffle the great Oppenheimer — the device can tell me how fast you’re going when I pass you,” Drolet explained.
The system works by sending out waves that detect the speed of approaching vehicles.
“The device then subtracts my vehicle’s speed. and Bingo! That gives me the speed of the oncoming car,” he noted.
The SQ’s latest speed radar technology goes even further, allowing officers to track vehicles in front of or behind them. That means weaving between cars to avoid detection won’t necessarily work as updated radars can pick up multiple vehicles at once and even identify the fastest one of the bunch
According to the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), speeding violations in the province can lead to fines ranging from $30 to $1,980 and up to 36 demerit points. Fines are doubled for speeding offences committed in road work zones or school zones (during the school year).
So, unless you’re feeling extra generous with donations to the province, you may want to slow down.
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