Does it matter if you drive at 88 in an 80 speed limit zone with average speed check?
2 Answers
It does not matter if you drive at 88 in an 80 speed limit zone with average speed check. Here are the relevant explanations: 1. Average speed check method: With average speed check, gradual deceleration is acceptable. Even if you pass the sign at 88, this 88 is not directly compared to the 80 limit. Instead, your vehicle's average speed over the entire 80-limited section is compared to 80. 2. Sensor sensitivity: Additionally, the speed displayed on the dashboard differs from the actual vehicle speed due to various sensor sensitivities. This is likely a safety consideration by the designers. So when the dashboard shows 88, the actual speed might be slightly lower. Therefore, staying within 10% below the limit will not result in fines or penalty points.
As a veteran driver with over 20 years of experience, I firmly believe that driving at 88 km/h in an 80 km/h average speed control zone is definitely risky and not something to take chances with. Average speed control measures your mean speed throughout the zone - if the limit is 80 km/h and you drive at 88 km/h, unless there's traffic congestion or deceleration midway, your average speed can easily exceed 80 km/h and get you caught. I learned this the hard way when I was in a hurry on the highway once, drove slightly faster, and ended up with a ticket costing me both demerit points and hundreds in fines. More importantly, from a safety perspective, higher speeds mean less control and greater accident risks, especially during rainy or foggy conditions. My advice to all drivers is to strictly adhere to speed limits. Installing a navigation app that alerts you about zone lengths is wise - it saves money and gives peace of mind. After all, steadier driving is always better.
