With many modern GPS devices, the current speed limit will be displayed on the screen. This is different from the speed the vehicle is traveling at, but simply informs the driver what the speed limit is on that current road. After all, the GPS is constantly tracking which roads the vehicle is using, so incorporating this data makes a lot of sense. A driver who hasn’t seen a speed limit sign in a while can easily just check their dash display to see how quickly they’re allowed to go.
But should you trust that speed limit? What if it’s different than the limit on the road where you’re driving? Could you still end up getting a ticket even though you thought you were adhering to the speed limit?
When was the software updated?
The big question to ask is when your GPS was updated. Some devices update automatically and should usually be correct. But some have to be updated manually, or new software packages have to be downloaded. If you haven’t done this, then you could have outdated speed limits that no longer match the current limits.
For instance, cities were recently given permission to lower speed limits below 30 MPH in areas where they weren’t previously allowed to do so. If you’re driving through one of these areas, your GPS may tell you that you are adhering to an older speed limit, but the truth is that you are now breaking the new, lower limit that was imposed by the municipality.
If a mistake like this does lead to a speeding ticket, then it’s important for you to understand all of the steps that you can take and the options at your disposal.