How to Avoid Speed Traps on Country Roads

I can still remember the first time I fell for a speed trap. It was a dark country road and the speed limit changed from 55 to 55 at the apex of a curve. The flashing lights of a police cruiser illuminated the interior of my car before I even had a chance to switch from the accelerator to the brake pedal. I got a ticket, which was later contested in court, but it was still quite a hassle because I was four hours from home (and three counties away) when it happened. Speed traps on country roads are a major source of revenue for small towns, but here's how to avoid them.

Visit SpeedTrap.org
One of the best ways to avoid speed traps on country roads is to look them up when you know where you'll be driving. According to this website, the top cities for speed traps are Detroit, Washington D.C., Orlando and Colorado Springs. If you take the time to plan your route and mark speed traps on your map, you'll be less likely to fall victim. However, don't use this as a crutch -- you can't assume that SpeedTrap.org will be up-to-date 100% of the time, so keep your eyes peeled even when you've marked likely speed traps on your map.

Drive Under the Speed Limit
When navigating country roads, it sometimes helps to travel under the speed limit just in case. There are usually plenty of hills and sharp corners on country roads that could easily be a catalyst for an accident, so driving slower is not only helpful in avoiding speed traps, but also safer. Ten to fifteen miles under the speed limit should be sufficient, though you'll still have to watch for speed limit signs.

Brake Around Curves
One of the most popular places for speed traps is around the back side of a curve. Rather than rocketing through the turn, avoid speed traps by slowing down considerably. Again, this is not only a speed trap issue but also a safety issue. If someone is coming the other way and crosses the median even a little, you could have yourself one heck of a collision.