A driver can often times avoid a speeding ticket if only he or she was privy to a speed trap or the presence of law enforcement. A web application for smartphones, which may be of interest for South Carolina residents, is making that happen. Escort Inc., a company that produces tools used by motorists to help detect the presence of law enforcement, has also developed a social network feature that allows drivers to share information with each other.

Escort Inc.'s radar detector also plays into the equation. The radar detector picks up lasers being used by police to read a driver's speed in hopes to catch him or her speeding. The new addition to this radar detector is that drivers can now pair it with their smartphone using a cord.

When a driver's radar detector goes off, it does two things -- warns the driver to slow down so they are not caught speeding, but also feeds into the phone. The driver then has the option to share that information with other drivers so they can know of speed traps or the presence of police in areas before they even approach it. This social network seemingly helps keep drivers more informed than ever before.

The concept is not brand new, as other apps also gave users the power to report things like road hazards and speeds traps to their peers via cell phones. Although this latest version allows drivers to stay attentive at the wheel as the radar detector does most of the work. Other apps require a driver to enter information manually while attempting to drive.

While developers of the app do credit police for keeping the roads safe by enforcing speed limits, they wanted to create the app to cut down on speeding tickets handed out in speed traps where a driver's speed does not pose a safety threat whatsoever.

Source: PC World, "Escort Live social network protects you from speed traps," Sarah Jacobsson Purewal, Jan. 8, 2012