Drivers could be hit with penalties and points on their licence due to a speedometer habit that more than one in 10 admit to having. According to a study conducted by private plate supplier Regtransfers, one in 10 British motorists confessed they don't rely on their speedometer when gauging their speed on the road.
The survey revealed that 86% of respondents primarily use their car's dashboard speedo to stay within legal speed limits. Yet, 14% acknowledged using alternative methods for speed assessment – including personal intuition and instincts.
With an increasing array of mobile apps and dedicated SatNav devices offering speed tracking and road condition information, it's unsurprising that 8% of those surveyed said they mainly use a SatNav or phone app to determine their speed.
While this percentage may seem small, considering the total number of UK full driving licence holders stood at 42,120,966 as of April 2024, the 8% represents over 3 million individuals. The other 6% is evenly divided between judging speed by other traffic flow and relying on their own "natural intuition and instincts".
Mark Trimbee, CEO of Regtransfers, has advised caution regarding reliance on unofficial speed measures whilst driving. He highlighted in a statement that while vehicle technologies offer various conveniences, it is crucial that drivers use their dashboard instruments for accurate monitoring of vehicular performance and speed, reports Birmingham Live.
Mark said: "SatNav apps - and the various additional features they offer - are a fantastic tool to help any driver, but it's important that road users continue to use their dashboard instruments to keep track of their vehicle's performance and speed."
Clarifying further on the matter, Mark added: "SatNavs rely on GPS readings to calculate speed, and while they're often accurate, there's always a chance the reading could be wrong, since accuracy is determined by the quality of the satellite signal being received. As long as it's in good condition, your speedo should never understate your speed; by law, it must never show less than the speed you're going, and must never show more than 110% of your speed."
He warned motorists against relying solely on personal judgement or the behaviour of other road users for speed assessment: "It's never a good idea to base your speed on your own judgement. 30mph can feel like a crawl after being on the motorway, and it can be all too easy to misjudge your speed. As for using other road users to judge your speed, this one's simple; if they're over the speed limit, you will be too."
