What type of vehicle is the Database for?

missing_user · Joined: Aug 30, 2008 Posts: -7

The UK PGPSW database reflects the 'National Speed Limit' for cars and motorcycles.[within the blue border on the screenshot below]

It does not reflect the 'National Speed Limit' for other classes of vehicles [as can be seen within the red border]

If you drive the classes of vehicles other than Car and Motorcycles, be aware that if you rely on your GPS unit for audible and visual warning of 'speed' and 'overspeed', that you could be 10mph to 20mph over your national speed limit before you get the warning!

If your unit gives you visual and proximity warnings the onus is on you to sustitute your vehicle's 'national speed limit' for the speed value on the database.

This depends:-
on your type/make of unit
on your unit settings
on the database you downloaded [you can select the consolitated so speed is not then an issue]
the class of vehicle you are driving
the Country you are in

It is only within the 'National Speed limit' areas that these are important!

There are different speed limits for Buses/Large vans and HGV depending whether they are on Dual Carriageways or Motorways, while cars, motorcycles and towing vehicles have the same speed limit whether they are on Dual Carriageways or Motorways!

If you are using the European database, be aware that I think the towing speeds are:-
France-13mph lower than cars [68mph]
Germany-30mph lower than cars [50mph]
Ireland-24mph lower than cars [50mph]
Italy -31mph lower than cars [50mph]
Spain-18mph lower than cars [56mph]

There are many ways around the problem, some are listed below:-

1-manipulating the database for your personal use [those members with more knowledge can add these methods to the thread later]

2-selecting different databases

3-using Ash's software to manipulate the database

4-asking for a secondary database where perhaps the 60mph normal speed limit is reduced to 50mph and the Motorway 70mph is reduced to 60mph.

Pocketgps · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:55 am Post subject:

Good post strumble Laughing

Perhaps a note on the download pages would not go amiss.

GPS_fan · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:30 am Post subject:

Surely, this doesn't only apply to the PGPSW database though.

GPS units which display the speed limit wold all be wrong for other classes of vehicles.

TomTom and ANOther databases would also be incorrect.

However, as with the driving into streams and other stories, should drivers be expecting their GPS to know what type of vehicle is being driven, or is the driver expected to retain some powers of observation and thus compensate for his vehicle if the signposted speed limit does not apply?

If the sign says "Height restriction", "weight restriction" or something else, is the GPS also supposed to realise this or wold the driver be expected to act accordingly?
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Skippy · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:40 am Post subject:

strumble has an excellent point.

Perhaps the database should be extended to contain a flag to recording when the posted speed limit is "National Speed Limit" and what type of road it is (Single/dual/motorway)?

This could be used to munge the data to suit the NSL rules for different vehicles, either now or in the future. ie, when you download, it could ask what your vehicle type is and modify the limits accordingly.

Yes, it would take a bit of research to track the NSL rules for each country but as the popularity of the database grows, this may become a requirement so the sooner we start logging this data the better - even if we don't use it straight away.
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GPS_fan · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:57 am Post subject:

Perhaps it could be worth a poll to gauge how much interest there might be, before creating hoodles of work

Retreating to the back of the class, hat in hand
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M8TJT · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:09 am Post subject:

DennisN · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:15 am Post subject:

Actually, not many of the "non ordinary" drivers are aware of (or obey) these rules anyway - when was the last time you were NOT overtaken by a madman towing a little trailer with wonky wheels or by a loaded car recovery truck or by a whitevanman driving a (non car-derived van) Merc Sprinter?

And when I'm stuck behind an HGV on the A36 or A37, it's not because they're doing 40 when I could be doing 60!
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GPS_fan · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:39 am Post subject:

MaFt · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:42 am Post subject:

what if ometimes you have a trailer and sometimes you don't - wouldn't such a set up cause big problems? eg you know you are towing a trailer/caravan so you download the special database and install this. you travel 250 miles then drop off your load. you drive back without the trailer bt have all the wrong warnings for 250 miles... and vice versa

MaFt

missing_user · Joined: Aug 30, 2008 Posts: -7

missing_user · Joined: Aug 30, 2008 Posts: -7

Andy_P · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:08 am Post subject:

I can't see any easy way that the database in it's present form could be altered to produce the results you desire.
But as far as I can see, the only issue is with the satnav units which do not trigger an alert unless you are actually driving above the posted limit?

Flippant answer... Buy a TomTom, then you will be reminded of the speed limit you saw at the side of the road, and will be able to make the same decisions as you would normally.

Sensible answer, don't drive above the limit!

A simple warning to HGV drivers, trailer towers, etc. somewhere on the download page may be sensible though.

Andy_P · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:22 am Post subject:

Before too many people panic, Strumbles issue will only affect owners of Satnavs which only trigger alerts dependant on the sped you are travelling.

Most other brands will show a picture of the speed limit (or indicate it on the screen) as per the signs you passed on the roadside.
If your particular vehicle means you have to drive at a lower speed, then you would presumably do the same mental adjustment when you see it on your sat-nav screen as when you see one by the side of the road.

Also, I maintain that there's no way a normal Gatso/Monitron etc. can "flash" at a different speed dependant on the vehicle type, and although a copper with a mobile gun COULD work out that a particular vehicle should be going at a slower speed than the posted limit, I bet most of the time he wouldn't bother, he just waits for the big red light to flash (or whatever happens!) to say someone's gone over the set speed on his gun.

Now SPECS installations could probably look up a vehicle database (like the congestion charge and low emission zone cameras do), but I would guess they don't. Anyone know for sure?

Others have pointed me to a couple of old websites which maintain there are some Gatsos that CAN determine the height of a vehicle and flash at a different speed, but I've seen no concrete proof of this. Anyone know THAT for sure?

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