Satnav users are being warned to update their devices as soon as possible, as harsher speeding fines from next week will mean out of date information could end up costing you thousands.
On 24 April new rules come into play - meaning if you're caught driving above the speed limit, you'll not only be handed three points, but also a fine of up to 150% of your weekly income. Currently, fines are capped at £1,000.
As the sentencing rules prepare to kick in, experts have warned that those with satnavs could end up the most at risk - as failing to update your device could leave you with out of date information.
Figures by uSwitch show that the majority (78%) of drivers now rely on a satnav or smartphones for advice on speed limits - but only 58% of these users regularly update their devices.
This means they're not only missing out on new road layout changes, but also speed limit changes.
A further fifth of motorists (18%) say they’ve driven dangerously – for instance driving the wrong way down a one-way street or needing to make a sharp U-turn to get back on track, as a result of receiving the wrong information from their device.
Even worse, one in six (17%) say their satnav has given them the wrong speed limit.
With speeding fines due to increase by up to 50% next week, for the most serious cases in England and Wales, uSwitch is calling on drivers to sharpen up on the laws of the road and keep their devices up to date.
uSwitch insurance expert, Rod Jones, said: “We are officially a nation of satnav junkies, but our addiction to technology is causing us to drive dangerously and risk large fines.
"While satnavs and smartphones are an incredibly useful tool for motorists, it is important to remember they are never a complete substitute for knowing the rules of the road.
“Tougher penalties have already been introduced around handheld device usage that could mean newer drivers losing their licence after a first offence and for all drivers the penalties have increased.
"And drivers will be hit even harder for speeding when the new, heavier, fines come into effect next week.
“It is important to remember not to handle your mobile phone or satnav while driving, no matter how tempting. If you need to change your route, having taken a wrong turn, find somewhere safe to park first."
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