Drivers have been warned their sat navs could get them into trouble. (Image: Getty Images)

Drivers warned sat navs may be lying to them and could land them with huge fines

Experts have warned motorists not to rely solely on their sat nav for important information

by · Birmingham Live

Drivers have been warned their sat navs may be lying to them about a key piece of information on the roads - and that relying solely on what they say could lead to them getting a fine and points. Sat navs are used by most of us these days to help us get around.

Technology has come on a lot over recent years but experts are warning drivers what they say should not always be taken as gospel. This is particularly the case around speed limits.

Motorists have been told they should not rely on their sat navs when it comes to speed limits - and it's not an acceptable excuse if they tell you the wrong speed limit of a road. Everyone is being reminded to use the traditional ways to use speed limits like looking for road signs.

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If there aren't any road signs in built-up areas then the speed will be 30mph in most cases. Data displayed by sat nav systems might sometimes be wrong, and they may not be kept updated when speed limits change.

It comes as 20mph limits are being increasingly rolled out across the country in residential areas. Jake Smith, motoring expert at Absolute Reg, said: “With so many local authorities looking to introduce new, lower speed limits in their local area to reduce accidents, it is more important than ever for motorists to be aware of road signs.

“Checking your sat nav for the speed limit can be helpful on unknown roads or when you can’t spot a road sign, but drivers must be aware of the risks. Over-reliance on navigation systems can lead to a whole host of issues for drivers.

"But being caught out by not paying attention to update speed limits could seriously cost you, with the risk of a £2,500 fine. It is especially important for new drivers, who may not be used to looking out for new speed limit signs on the roads."