North Carolina RADAR State Practice Exam

What potential issue might arise when using moving RADAR if large vehicles are present?

1. Inaccuracy due to interference

2. Improved speed estimation

3. Enhanced safety measurements

4. Accurate data collection

The correct answer is: Inaccuracy due to interference

The accurate selection highlights an important issue that can arise when using moving RADAR systems, particularly in environments where large vehicles are present. When large vehicles are detected by RADAR, they can create significant reflections that may interfere with the measurements being taken. Moving RADAR systems rely on the Doppler effect to calculate speed by assessing frequency shifts in the returned signals. If a large vehicle is nearby, it can produce a strong return signal that may overshadow or complicate the measurements of smaller vehicles or those traveling in close proximity. This interference can lead to inaccuracies in speed estimation, as the RADAR may mistakenly interpret the data from larger vehicles or may not accurately isolate the speed of smaller vehicles that are of interest. The presence of multiple large vehicles can exacerbate this issue, creating a cluttered signal environment that complicates the interpretation of the data. In contrast, the other options suggest improvements or advantages that do not align with the challenges posed by large vehicles, making them less relevant in this context. Enhanced safety measures and improved speed estimation would likely not address the potential inaccuracies arising from interference, while accurate data collection would be compromised in such scenarios.