WEST GERMAN DRIVERS FREQUENTLY DO NOT CONSIDER SPEEDING AS A SERIOUS TRAFFIC VIOLATION AND REACT WITH ANGER AND SURPRISE WHENEVER THEY BECOME THE 'VICTIM' OF A RADAR TRAP. YET STATISTICS SHOW THAT EXCESSIVE SPEED SIGNIFICANTLY INFLUENCES THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS, THEIR MATERIAL DAMAGE, AND THE EXTENT OF PHYSICAL INJURY. IN GENERAL, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICE SPEED CONTROLS DEPENDS ON (1) THE INTENSITY OF THE CONTROL, (2) THE STRICTNESS OF THE SANCTIONS, AND (3) MEDIA AND PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS SPEED VIOLATIONS. IN WEST GERMANY, EACH OF THESE FACTORS TENDS TO WORK AGAINST THE EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF SPEED LIMITS. THE RADAR CONTROLS ARE SPORADIC, LIMITED TO PARTICULAR, WELL-KNOWN POINTS OF DANGER, AND FREQUENTLY EVEN ANNOUNCED IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS. THE FINES IMPOSED ON WEST GERMAN SPEED OFFENDERS ARE LOWER THAN IN OTHER COUNTRIES, AND A SPEEDER'S LICENSE IS RARELY SUSPENDED. WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC ATTITUDES, POLICE OFFICERS THEMSELVES ARE SOMETIMES QUOTED AS QUESTIONING THE USEFULNESS OF SPEED CONTROLS. TO INCREASE THE LONG-TERM EFFECT OF SPEED SURVEILLANCE, THE POLICE NEED TO (1) ACQUIRE MORE SOPHISTICATED AND LESS OBVIOUS SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT, (2) EXTEND CONTROLS TO COVER GREATER PHYSICAL AREAS, (3) MAINTAIN RADAR CONTROLS AT ALL HOURS INCLUDING NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS, AND (4) STOP SPEEDERS IMMEDIATELY RATHER THAN MAILING OUT TICKETS LATER. HOWEVER, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SPEED CONTROLS ULTIMATELY DOES NOT DEPEND ON POLICE ACTION BUT ON THE LAWMAKERS WHO DECIDE THROUGH LEGISLATION WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL'S PERSONAL FREEDOM OR HIS LIFE AND FREEDOM FROM INJURY ARE MORE IMPORTANT. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS EXTENSIVE STATISTICAL CHARTS AND DIAGRAMS. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)