What is the main purpose of RADAR in speed detection operations?

The main purpose of RADAR in speed detection operations is to measure the speed of vehicles. RADAR technology uses the Doppler effect to calculate the speed of a moving object by emitting a radio wave that reflects off the vehicle and returns to the device. The change in frequency of the returned signal allows the device to determine how fast the vehicle is traveling.

This capability is crucial for law enforcement and traffic management, as it provides an accurate, real-time assessment of vehicle speeds. By measuring speed, authorities can effectively enforce speed limits, identify speeding violations, and promote safer driving practices, thereby enhancing overall road safety.

The other choices, while related to traffic management, do not capture the primary function of RADAR technology in this context. Improving traffic flow and establishing speed limits are outcomes that may result from enforcing detected speeds, but they are not the direct purpose of RADAR. Capturing traffic violations is an application of the speed readings obtained through RADAR, but it is not the fundamental purpose of the technology itself.