1. A method of operation for a radar system installed in a vehicle, where the radar system detects objects within a desired detection range of the vehicle, the detection range being divided into a plurality of contiguous detection regions of increasing distance from the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: illuminating the desired detection range with radar energy; detecting radar energy reflected back to the system by objects disposed within the desired detection range; for each of the detection regions in sequence, detecting and integrating the reflected energy corresponding to the respective detection region for a dwell interval selected for the respective detection region; and selecting the predetermined dwell intervals to increase in duration with the distance of the respective detection region from the vehicle.