Thread: GPS speed warnings

Can anybody please comment on various GPS units and speed limit warnings? It isn't clear from information on-line whether any of them other than the Tom Tom beeps or gives any audible warning if the speed limit (when known) is being exceeded.

Thanks in advance.

I can advise a bit on this, as the speed warning was a major factor in looking for a new GPS navigator. I tried a few.

My new TomTom XL340 has audible and visual speed warining.
It seems to go off if you are at 5km/hr over the speed limit for more than 5 seconds or so. There's no adjustment that I can find. Most Tom Tom models have this except the very low end ones. I would rather it was a percentage based warning ( ie 5% over the speed limit ) rather than a fixed 5km/h. However the TomTom does constantly display the speed limit along with the vehicle speed in nice big letters e.g. as 90/100 if you are doing 90 in a 100 zone. I like this format.

The Garmin Nuvis have speed warning but visual ( onscreen ) only - they do not seen to have an audible warning. The graphic is like a speed limit sign . A shame because the Garmin was my GPS of choice except for that ( most readable screen by far ).

The NaVMans have both audible and visual but only in the higher end models. It's tricky because it is not clear from their specs - and the JB Hi Fi sales dude didn't help much.

The best speed warning was from an Aldi Go Cruise GPS running iGo8 software - this was user adjustable to the percentage over the speed limit and the warning came as spoken message rather than a beep ( "You are OVER the speed limit" )
However other factors ( poor screen, miniscule text etc ) let this one down.

Any over the speed limit warning given by these devices is only as accurate as the onboard database. Most of these devices ( except the NavMan ) use the WhereIs maps and speed data. I've struck one or two places where it is inaccurate. ( eg Stud Rd and High St Rds, Wantirna, limit is 80 but warning goes off at 55 ) On the TomTom you can change the limit manually if you find one wrong. When you connect your device to their website it uploads these corrections. You can also download speed limit corrections sent from all the other users for free. However you have to pay for red light and speed camera updates.