A new performance standard for automated systems that register motorists’ speeds to catch speeders should help law enforcement agencies choose which one to purchase and help them make sure the devices perform the required task.

Unlike conventional “down-the-road” radar speed-measuring devices, across-the-road radar systems do not require an operator and can be programmed to detect and record vehicles traveling above a predetermined speed. They can also be set to look for motorcycles, cars, or trucks.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police have both adopted the new standard as well as two standards for down-the-road radar and for lidar, which uses laser pulses to detect speeders.

All three standards define minimum performance specifications and measurement procedures for verifying these requirements so that motorists, courts, and law enforcement can be sure the systems will perform as expected.