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901 Councilman Williams asked whether under the " speed trap " legislation the 85 percentile must be used specifically , and noted that Council had been presented with two figures , the 85 percentile , or critical speed , and average speed . Director of Public Works responded that according to the State law , the State Safety Manual is specified to be used in determine ing reasonable speed limit , and that refers to the 85 percentile formula . Chief of Police commented on the effect of the legislation on his Depart- ment , in that he had issued orders to discontinue use of radar and that they have resorted to the " clocking" method to enforce speed laws as set by Ordinance . As indicated in his written report , this method was time- consuming . He noted the 2 , 107 citations issued in 1972 for speed limit violations , 57% of which were issued through use of radar as primary evidence . In response to question by Councilman Norris as to whether posting signs or actual patrolling had a greater effect , Chief of Police responded that it was a combination of both, but that certainly the best deterrent was the presence of a patrol car on the streets . He pointed out , however , that controlling traffic was not the only thing the Police Department did . Responding to further questions , Chief of Police advised that the Department had two radars of a portable type , for use in traffic enforcement , at an investment of $ 1 , 500 each with maintenance and repair ranging from $300 to $400 per year . Traffic control by radar is simpler , safer and more effective tool to use , because the only other method is to have a patrol car keeping pace with the driver , which involves traveling the same speed , observing speed limits , and then pulling out of traffic . Radar monitors every car that passes , with very little error . He com- mented on the use of selective enforcement system on speeders , that is , where the majority of motorists are moving at 40 miles per hour , for example , and are attentive and keeping pace , the officers do not bother that volume . It is the individual who is not keeping pace with a smooth , safe flow of traffic , lane jumping , and may be going only five miles per hour faster , who will be cited . Also , occasionally a driver may receive a citation for going 25 mph in a 25 mph zone , if the weather or other factors warrant , and the citation will have the notation to the court to the effect he was traveling too fast for conditions . It was noted that Marine World Parkway was the only other street which has had a traffic engineering study in Redwood City by which a speed limit has been set , but it was acknowledged there were few similarities between the two areas , and it had no speed problems . Chief of Police compared the accident rate of the City as a whole of over 14 per million vehicle miles , against 1 . 1 on Jefferson Avenue - 4/2/73 Reg . Mtg .