North Carolina RADAR State Practice Exam

What is the function of RADAR technology in speed enforcement?

1. To determine the location of traffic jams

2. To display target-vehicle speed in miles per hour

3. To analyze road conditions

4. To monitor vehicle emissions

The correct answer is: To display target-vehicle speed in miles per hour

The function of RADAR technology in speed enforcement primarily revolves around its ability to measure the speed of moving vehicles. When deployed by law enforcement agencies, RADAR devices emit radio waves that bounce off moving vehicles, with the time taken for these waves to return being used to calculate the speed of the target vehicle. This measurement is typically displayed in miles per hour, providing officers with real-time data that is crucial for enforcing speed limits. The other options focus on different aspects of road management and vehicle operation. Determining the location of traffic jams, analyzing road conditions, and monitoring vehicle emissions are functions that may utilize different technologies or methodologies. For instance, traffic cameras or sensors might be used for monitoring congestion, while environmental monitoring tools would be more pertinent to emissions analysis. Hence, while those aspects are important in their own right, they are not the primary function of RADAR technology in the context of speed enforcement.