I'd like opinions on whether a radar detector is really necessary in the Bay Area?

I live in the East Bay (Walnut Creek) and do weekly commute to Mountain View via 680/237.

I've lived in Walnut Creek for 4 years, and previously on the Peninsula for 12 years.

I certainly drive faster than traffic most of the time. Yet in all these years I've only been radar'd once, and that was back in 1990!

Am I just lucky?

Thanks

BlueBlast

I commute from San Mateo to SF and I use a V1 radar detector, and I have yet to be pegged in over four months of driving my Cayman.
I bought the V1 about a month and a half ago and I finally opted to use it only on long trips. The average speed on 101/280/nb/sb is ~75MPH... The other thing is that there are so many false alarms that is just not worth it. I know near 101/University the radar just goes nuts, same near the airport. A good reason to turn it off....

On Tuesday, I decided to drive to SF using 280N. Everyone was hauling *ss. Average speed was around ~80. So much so that several HP's passed all of us and started slowing everyone down. Not a single ticket, but they start swerving from left to right to slow down traffic.

I have driven to LA twice and used the V1. (reason I bought it)... And it was very useful. But I have to be honest, I bought the V1 under recommendation of friends and research. Mostly though under recommendation. So I couldn't really tell you if it is better than an Escort, or any other brand....

C

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Go Cayman !

In 5 years of commuting from SF to Mountain View, I can honestly say that not one of the tickets I've received could have been prevented with a radar detector. Every ticket was a result of being sniped from a patrolman driving up my blind spot from an on-ramp. As others have mentioned, there are a lot of sources of false alarms on the highway too.

I have the V1 now and love it, but it's mostly for Rt. 9 and Skyline to my new home location in Los Gatos.

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2000 Audi S4 (daily driver)
2005 Volvo V70R (family hauler)
2007 Cayman S (psychotherapy)

Unless a speed trap is involved, CHP generally only go after drivers who stand out. Of course, with our cars, that's a little difficult. I don't plan on getting a detector myself.