Anyone who puts a car on the road is responsible for the activities of the car on the road. To reduce the high cost of human speed on the road, many public- and private-owned vehicles have a “speed monitored by GPS” bumper sticker. What then is a speed monitored vehicle?
A speed monitored vehicle is a vehicle that has its speed tracked and recorded on a database. The cars in a business-owned fleet are commonly speed monitoring. This not only helps with insurance claims but also facilitates safe driving amongst the drivers.
In this article, I am going to review how a speed monitor works and what a speed monitored vehicle is. I will also explain how a GPS measures your speed and the ways you can monitor a car’s speed.
How Does A Speed Monitor Work?
Accidents caused by excessive speeding never seem to be on a decline and individuals and society at large pay the price for these accidents. Monitoring the speed of a vehicle on the road is a major way to maintain safe driving.
A speed monitor is a GPS device that comprises 3 major parts:
- An input device for the driver to choose a speed tolerance profile
- A receiver that determines and records the speed and location of the vehicle.
- A processor that determines the posted limit for a location, compares it to the real-time speed of the vehicle and sends a warning/alert when the vehicle exceeds the selected speed tolerance profile.
The data collected by the speed monitoring device is sent to a central server/hub over wireless networks. Software at the hub analyses the data and generates an alert when the vehicle exceeds the pre-recorded speed limit. The alert could be an email or a text, and the driver and employer receive it.
Speed monitors are important players in the reduction of accident risks. A driver that is constantly alerted to excesses of speed can make immediate adjustments before it is too late. Speed monitors also help to ease the stress of insurance proceedings about accidents caused by speeding.
Samsara, Quartix, and Verizon Connect are some popular providers of speed monitoring devices.
What Is A Speed Monitored Vehicle?
As earlier stated, a speed monitored vehicle has a GPS device installed in it to track and record its speed. Although most speed-monitored vehicles are owned by businesses (trucks and delivery vans), you can also outfit private cars with a speed monitor.
Conscientious individuals may take it upon themselves to be more mindful of their speed limits. Parents might also be interested in monitoring the driving behaviors of their children (minors.) Car insurance companies can also use the data from speed monitoring to validate accident claims.
These cars usually have a sticker or sign on the outside that shows they have a monitoring device onboard. The sign acts as a warning to other motorists who may try to tailgate them or force them to over speed. It also cautions against theft since the GPS always records the vehicle’s location and routes.
The most important warning goes to the driver of the vehicle. Whoever installs a speed monitoring device does so to mitigate the risks of accidents caused by excessive speeding. If the vehicle belongs to a business fleet, the data recorded may help improve the efficiency of their deliveries and the quality of their employees.
Most accidents occur because of human mistakes. Driving under the influence, texting or being otherwise distracted while driving, disregarding traffic signals, and excessive speeding are just a few human errors in the mix. Amongst them, speeding takes the crown. Any measure that curtails speeding is a welcome development.
Does A GPS Tell You Your Speed?
A GPS can record your speed. Whether it’s in your map, speed monitoring device, or an app on your phone, a GPS can tell you your speed with a measure of accuracy. It does this by calculating your speed using the formula: speed is equal to the distance covered divided by the time taken to cover the distance (x = d/t)
In a GPS device, the clock inside measures the time it takes to cover a distance. The distance covered is calculated by using two GPS locations (points.) A speed reading is more accurate the longer the journey is and the more measurements are taken.
Like the accuracy of GPS positioning, the speed-accuracy of GPS depends on many factors. Signal blockage, satellite geometry, receiver quality/design features, and atmospheric conditions are factors that influence the calculation of speed and its accuracy. To know your speed from GPS technology, you must turn on your data and GPS connection, respectively.
GPS speeds are generally more accurate than the speed shown on a speedometer, even if some may disagree that GPS speed readings are faster than a speedometer’s. The only substantial cause of inaccuracy arises on steep slopes and declines
Besides telling your speed, some GPS systems also compare your speed with the posted speed limit in your location. You will only receive a notification about going over the speed limit if the system has that function. The accuracy of the data depends on the rate at which your GPS system updates itself.
How Do You Monitor A Car’s Speed?
A car’s speed can be monitored by a handful of means/devices including:
- A speedometer:
A car speedometer measures speed by calculating how many wheel revolutions occur in a fixed amount of time, assuming a certain circumference of the wheels. Any change in the wheel circumference affects the reading of the speedometer. A change in the tire’s model and the weight of the vehicle are some factors that can affect its reading.
The inaccuracies of a speedometer reading are further supported by the fact that many car manufacturers calibrate their speedometers to overstate speed.
- A speed monitoring device:
This device monitors your real-time speed and compares it with the posted speed limit of your current location. It could be a vehicle installation or an app on your phone
You need to pay attention to your speed limits and driving habits. Reduce the risk of causing an accident by employing one of these speed tracking measures to keep you in check.
