Personal injury
Beat the satnav: fun game or painful mistake?
Have you ever tried to beat a satnav estimate? Our personal injury experts explain why trying to beat a sat nav’s predicted time could have consequences.
The ‘game’ beat the satnav has been around since the technology was first introduced, with drivers convinced the estimated arrival time was longer than necessary and they could reach their destination sooner. This has become dangerously competitive over the years, and instead of a comparison being made, drivers began to take actions to beat the time, such as speeding and reckless driving.
In recent research we conducted, Slater and Gordon found that nearly a quarter of Scottish drivers ‘play’ beat the satnav.
What are satnav times based on?
Satnav estimated arrival times made differ slightly depending on what AI your chosen navigation system used. For example, some take into account the traffic at certain times and therefore will estimate a later arrival time, while others will simply provide a standard travel time based on average speed limits.
It is important to note that any estimations provided by AI travel technology is a guidance not a challenge. It exists purely to give you an accurate idea of when you will reach your destination and you can plan accordingly. Speeding over the limit in order to ‘beat the satnav’ could be considered reckless and will pose a risk to other drivers on the road.
Speeding and penalties
Collisions due to speeding can easily be avoided by adhering to a speed limit and yet our research found that nearly two thirds of Scottish drivers believed it was the primary cause of road collisions.
Adhering to speed limits not only helps prevent collisions but adhering to speed limits can also significantly reduce the risk of serious injury to you or any passengers. Speed limits also allow for distance gaps between vehicles; the bigger the gap, the more time and space you have to react.
Police recorded 15,064 speeding offences in 2023-24 – although this number does not include the thousands of drivers also clocked by the country’s network of speed cameras.
In Scotland, the minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and 3 penalty points added to your licence. The maximum fine is £1,000 on regular roads and £2,500 on motorways. You could also face disqualification from driving or a suspended license if you are caught speeding consistently.
We are here to help
Road collisions can happen anytime and anywhere, especially if people are speeding and increasing the risk of injury. If you are involved in a road traffic collision, whether as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian, it can be a life changing event. Our legal experts are here to help you get the rehabilitation, compensation and to support your needs following a road traffic collision. Contact us today on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online to arrange a callback.