Bloke leans out of passenger window and....

[briantrumpet]

So there I was, minding my own business on a quick spin tonight. An old 4x4 more or less catches up with me on a good country lane, though I was moving at a good pace .... but doesn't overtake where he could (and I'd kept in to the left). In fact he doesn't overtake for about two miles, until we get on to the main road. As he goes past, I see the passenger window being wound down.... the young male passenger leans out.... and he says "Impressive mate - you were averaging 30-35 down there", and drives on. Not quite what I was expecting. Especially as I was doing 25-30, anyway. He shouldn't be exaggerating, that's my job.

 

[mr Mag00]

only ever happened to me twice, good feeling though better than the usual BS!

 

[david k]

iwas hoping to read he jumped out and you hit him, lol, only joking good effort mate, well done

 

[HLaB]

A mate of mine cycling up a long hill and got the usual load of abuse from a 4x4 as it passed (I don't think he was in the gutter ); a while later he got to the top of the hill spotted the said 4x4 parked and expected more of the same, no it was positive words of encouragement and congratulations

 

[gaz]

Car speedos are set to show a faster speed than the car is actually doing.

 

[400bhp]

That's an urban myth I believe.

Gaz-all your posts appear as statements

 

[Arch]

That's an urban myth I believe.

Gaz-all your posts appear as statements

If you compare speedo to the readout on a satnav, the speedo is always higher - the satnav is the correct one.

So yes, speedos do read 'over' - it can be 4-5mph difference at 70.

 

[david k]

If you compare speedo to the readout on a satnav, the speedo is always higher - the satnav is the correct one.

So yes, speedos do read 'over' - it can be 4-5mph difference at 70.

why do they read over?

 

[400bhp]

I know some speedos over-read, but that doesn't mean all do. Most manufacturers won't want to underestimate due to potential legalistic issues, so generally they will overestimate.

Tyre pressure and tyre heat will affect the speedo reading.

 

[Thomk]

As I understand it car speedo's have to be within 10% (at 30mph I think). Car makers tend to calibrate them to overestimate the speed in order to avoid liability for speeding tickets due to inacurate readings. Hence often a 33mph reading will in fact (often) be 30mph.

 

[Nebulous]

Car speedos are not allowed to be under. They are allowed to be 10% over, so manufacturers try to aim for the middle. So almost all cars will be over.

 

[funnymummy]

Car speedos are set to show a faster speed than the car is actually doing.

That's an urban myth I believe.

Gaz-all your posts appear as statements

I've heard several people say both of the above... and after driving through several of those 'Smiley face you are doing **mph Thnak You' signs showing me doing slower than i'd reckoned, I thought i'd try out a slightly non-scientific test
Set the crusie control on my car at 30mph, according to my sat nav I was doing 27mph, I also had the gps off my bike, Endomondo & My Tracks running on my phone...they also showed me at 27mph.
I tried the same test at a variety of speeds, 40, 60 & 70mph... same thing all 4 other devices showed me driving 3/4mph slower than my crusie control was set at..
Don't know if this is proof or not, but it would seem Ford have a difference of opinion with Garmin & Holux

 

[Matthew_T]

I had some lads do that to me on a country road a long time ago. I was going slightly down hill, and saw this car coming behind me, I was doing a leisurely 25 mph, so sped up to 32/33 mph in order to not hold these guys up.

When, I stopped at the next junction, I pulled over and let them turn first (because I couldnt see around the corner). When they were waiting to pull out, the passenger said that I was going pretty fast down there. I explained to him that I could have gone faster if the road was steeper. (Bigging myself up)

He kindly laughed and off they roared.

Cheered me up.

 

[billy1561]

If you compare speedo to the readout on a satnav, the speedo is always higher - the satnav is the correct one.

So yes, speedos do read 'over' - it can be 4-5mph difference at 70.

+1

 

[Dilbert]

From Wikipedia:

"The amended Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 permits the use of speedometers that meet either the requirements of EC Council Directive 75/443 (as amended by Directive 97/39) or UNECE Regulation 39.[11]

The Motor Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2001[12] permits single vehicles to be approved. As with the UNECE regulation and the EC Directives, the speedometer must never show an indicated speed less than the actual speed. However it differs slightly from them in specifying that for all actual speeds between 25 mph and 70 mph (or the vehicles' maximum speed if it is lower than this), the indicated speed must not exceed 110% of the actual speed, plus 6.25 mph.

For example, if the vehicle is actually travelling at 50 mph, the speedometer must not show more than 61.25 mph or less than 50 mph."