Speed Warning Device

Joe_Horner

AdrianC wrote: »

Personally, I always lean towards c0ck-up over conspiracy...

So do I, but I live in hope of them announcing the Z123 with no speed limit and a ban on Audis

Car_54

AdrianC wrote: »

A "20 zone" without a 20mph speed limit is meaningless marketing guff, no more, no less.

Agree. Signs saying "20's plenty" or 20 in a green circle are advisory only. But where there is a proper 20 Zone sign, as shown here https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/222621/dg_191955.pdf

then it is a legally enforcable limit. There is no requirement for repeater signs, providing there are traffic calming features (e.g speed humps) at least every 100 metres.

old_system

Co-pilot on Android works fine for me, about £20, its very accurate. Alerts for speed cameras too. Normally turn it on when driving through areas I don't know.


Depending if you want to mess with your car, you could wire in a phone or sat nav to turn on automatically.

StripeyMiata

As other posters have said, cheap phone is the way to go. I have iPhone for work so don't need another phone, so I bought a cheap chinese OEM Android from eBay for £40 and a 3 Sim Card PAYG (because the top ops don't expire). The android is mounted on the dash using a Brodit clip (can really recommend them) so I get SAT NAV, Speed Warnings and live traffic warnings for about £30 a year with a £40 upfront cost. Compared to buying a dedicated SAT NAV it's a no-brainer in my opinion.

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

StripeyMiata wrote: »

As other posters have said, cheap phone is the way to go. I have iPhone for work so don't need another phone, so I bought a cheap chinese OEM Android from eBay for £40 and a 3 Sim Card PAYG (because the top ops don't expire). The android is mounted on the dash using a Brodit clip (can really recommend them) so I get SAT NAV, Speed Warnings and live traffic warnings for about £30 a year with a £40 upfront cost. Compared to buying a dedicated SAT NAV it's a no-brainer in my opinion.

The trouble with speed warning devices are that they assume that the data they work off is accurate. Around the country there have been lots of changes to country roads bringing down speed limits so the chances are that all the mapping is out of date, regardless of brand and you cannot rely on the mapping having an exact start point for the limit - some seem to be spot on, others are out.

Also, my car had the speed alert and it takes its time to warn you, so you can already have been done - and of course if you haven't already seen the speed limit sign and only react to the alert that comes on as it crosses the boundary - they don't give you advanced warning - you will be decelerating within the restricted area, so again that is prime speed camera territory. So a useful corrector if you have slipped up, but not a device that will guarantee to keep you at legal speeds.

Herzlos

I'd echo that. My newish TomTom has speed updates, but it can take hundreds of yards after the sign to take effect. More than long enough to get caught out. It's a nice reminder but no substitute for paying attention.

almillar

(sorry for repeating a few points already made, but...)
pauljoanss - yep, the devices you want are:
A sat nav - most of these have speed info built into the maps, and can beep at you when you go over.
You've also confirmed you've got cruise control - get more comfortable with that - set it, and if you need to slow down, the brakes will cancel it.

So that's devices, let's look at driving. What car do you drive? A Ferrari? It'll be harder to control your speed in this. A key skill in driving (learnt at L test) is holding a steady speed, which you seem to have a problem with. I wonder if you're driving around in too high a gear? Try a lower gear for whatever speed you're doing, hold your foot still on the throttle and see if your speed stays steady. If your RPM is, say, 1000-2000, it could be easy for the car to run away on you, and if you change this to 2000-2500 you'll be able to hold speed better. That's a big generalisation, and of course you could use more fuel, but your car will be more controllable.

StripeyMiata

IanMSpencer wrote: »

The trouble with speed warning devices are that they assume that the data they work off is accurate. Around the country there have been lots of changes to country roads bringing down speed limits so the chances are that all the mapping is out of date, regardless of brand and you cannot rely on the mapping having an exact start point for the limit - some seem to be spot on, others are out.

That's a fair point, but I would argue a cheap Android is probably better than a dedicated SAT NAV as I use Waze and the maps seem to be more up to date and I get live updates from other Waze users.

I have been driving for 25 years and never have been done for speeding. I actually think the main reason for this is that I don't care if I'm late for anything :rotfl:

Iceweasel

I get updates for my Garmin at least 4 times a year and they are pretty good at bringing things up to date.

But of course it's possible that if they just miss a deadline you could be unaware of it for 2 to 3 months - so it cannot be relied on 100%

Last year they extended the edge of our town - i.e. where the 30 limit starts - and the next update of the Garmin had it spot on - the speed limit display changes as I pass the 30 sign and if I'm over 30 the 'bong' tells me so - and the speed bar goes red.

ado

I'm not knocking sat navs per se but I really wish that there was some sort of device which would gather data multiple pieces of information from just in front of the vehicle as well as further afield then process it, then not only react to last minute events but would anticipate changes before you get to them....