Escort 9500ix - Manual (Page 14)

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Speed Cameras
SWS Text Messages
Highway Construction or Maintenance
1 Work Zone Ahead
2 Road Closed Ahead/Follow Detour
3 Bridge Closed Ahead/Follow Detour
4 Highway Work Crews Ahead
5 Utility Work Crews Ahead
6 All Traffic Follow Detour Ahead
7 All Trucks Follow Detour Ahead
8 All Traffic Exit Ahead
9 Right Lane Closed Ahead
10 Center Lane Closed Ahead
11 Left Lane Closed Ahead
12 For future use
Highway Hazard Zone Advisory
13 Stationary Police Vehicle Ahead
14 Train Approaching/At Crossing
15 Low Overpass Ahead
16 Drawbridge Up
17 Observe Drawbridge Weight Limit
18 Rock Slide Area Ahead
19 School Zone Ahead
20 Road Narrows Ahead
21 Sharp Curve Ahead
22 Pedestrian Crossing Ahead
23 Deer/Moose Crossing
24 Blind/Deaf Child Area
25 Steep Grade Ahead/Truck Use Low Gear
26 Accident Ahead
27 Poor Road Surface Ahead
28 School Bus Loading/Unloading
29 No Passing Zone
30 Dangerous Intersection Ahead
31 Stationary Emergency Vehicle Ahead
32 For future use
Weather Related Hazards
33 High Wind Ahead
34 Severe Weather Ahead
35 Heavy Fog Ahead
36 High Water/Flooding Ahead
37 Ice On Bridge Ahead
38 Ice On Road Ahead
39 Blowing Dust Ahead
40 Blowing Sand Ahead
41 Blinding Snow Whiteout Ahead
42 For future use
Travel Information/Convenience
43 Rest Area Ahead
44 Rest Area With Service Ahead
45 24 Hour Fuel Service Ahead
46 Inspection Station Open
47 Inspection Station Closed
48 Reduced Speed Area Ahead
49 Speed Limit Enforced
50 Hazardous Materials Exit Ahead
51 Congestion Ahead/Expect Delay
52 Expect 10 Minute Delay
53 Expect 20 Minute Delay
54 Expect 30 Minute Delay
55 Expect 1 Hour Delay
56 Traffic Alert/Tune AM Radio
57 Pay Toll Ahead
58 Trucks Exit Right
59 Trucks Exit Left
60 For future use
Fast/Slow Moving Vehicles
61 Emergency Vehicle In Transit
62 Police In Pursuit
63 Oversize Vehicle In Transit
64 Slow Moving Vehicle
SWS
How SWS Works
Safety Warning System, or SWS, uses a
modified K-band radar signal. The SWS
safety radar system has 64 possible
messages (60 currently allocated). The
SWS messages your PASSPORT can display
are listed on the facing page.
From the factory, your PASSPORT is
programmed with SWS decoding OFF. If
you wish to detect this system, use the
Preferences feature to turn PASSPORT’s
SWS decoding ON. If SWS is used in your
area, your PASSPORT will display the
safety messages associated with the signal.
NOTE: Some of the safety
messages have been condensed, so
that each message can be displayed
on one or two screens on PASSPORT’s
eight-character display.
Since Safety radar technology is
relatively new, and the number of
transmitters in operation is not yet
widespread, you will not receive Safety
signals on a daily basis. Do not be
surprised if you encounter emergency
vehicles, road hazards and railroad
crossings that are unequipped with these
transmitters. As Safety transmitters
become more prevalent (the number of
operating transmitters is growing every
day), these Safety radar signals will
become more common.
How Speed Cameras Work
There are several types of fixed position
speed cameras used, including radar, laser,
induction loop and photo-based.
Radar and laser based cameras are
typically mounted near the road and
transmit a short range signal across the
lanes monitored. Since this signal is
transmitted across the road instead of
down the road like many handheld
systems, detecting them in time is critical.
Another technology used is an
inductive loop system. This type of system
utilizes wire buried just beneath the
surface of the road to trigger a computer
which calculates speed between the two
points.
Photo-based systems take two sets of
pictures of all passing vehicles between
two separate fixed locations. Both sets of
photographs are date and time stamped,
which enables the system to calculate
average speed between the two locations.
Fixed speed cameras can also be set
up to monitor one to four lanes of traffic in
the same direction. To achieve this, a
sensor is installed in each lane and a wide
angle camera lens is used to photograph
the vehicle which is speeding.