What is the recommended distance for Lidar to effectively measure speed?

• A. 10 to 100 feet
• B. 100 to 300 feet
• C. Typically between 300 to 1,500 feet
• D. 1,500 to 3,000 feet

Answer: (C)

The recommended distance for Lidar to effectively measure speed typically falls between 300 to 1,500 feet. This range allows the device to accurately detect and measure the speed of moving vehicles while minimizing the risk of environmental interference and ensuring that the signal returns to the device without significant distortion.

Lidar systems emit rapid pulses of laser light that bounce off vehicles. At a distance between 300 to 1,500 feet, the technology can maintain a narrow beam width and precise range resolution, which are critical for determining the speed of a target vehicle. Operating within this distance ensures that the readings are reliable and can be used in enforcement situations such as traffic stops and legal proceedings.

Distances shorter than 300 feet may lead to inaccuracies due to the closer proximity of the measurement, while distances beyond 1,500 feet can introduce challenges such as signal dispersion and increased susceptibility to obstacles, reducing measurement accuracy. The specified effective range thus strikes a balance between clarity and reliability for speed measurements.