GPS, TomTom data finds drivers aren't speeding much, are being watched
By Donald Melanson 
posted January 24th 2010 11:07PM
posted January 24th 2010 11:07PM
Sure, you might be able to avoid speed cameras with an array of dash-mounted gadgets, but there's also another unseen eye that might be keeping an eye on your speeding habits: your GPS unit. Of course, GPS makers aren't too interested in collecting individual users' data (at least, we hope not), but they are collecting some general data, and TomTom has now released a few of its findings. Most notably, it found that drivers in just about every state stay within the speed limit on average, with only Mississippi edging 0.1 miles per hour over the top speed limit of 70 MPH. Things get a bit more interesting when you get down to specific routes in the United States, however, where the I-15 in Utah and Nevada comes out on top with an average speed of 77.67 miles per hour. On the other end of the spectrum, Washington D.C. proved to have the slowest drivers, where speeds averaged a mere 46 miles per hour -- although that likely has something to do with TomTom's earlier findings that Washington D.C. also has the most congested traffic in the U.S.
My car tracks average speed too ... which means it's never off like a GPS. I never drive the speed limit...on the highway it's 55 here and I drive 70. Local streets where it's 30...i go 35-40 if there's no kids running around.
My average speed? 37.6MPH.
Oh, did i mention traffic? Stop signs? Traffic lights? It's amazing any places get to drive the speed limit...and it's only possible in areas where there's no freaking traffic. Well, that or people are REALLY speeding when ever they can :)
It's no wonder speeds were highest on the I-15 through Nevada and Utah. Have you ever been on that stretch of interstate? Boooring!
Hey hey, let's not get irresponsible about our findings. This tracks people with TomTom GPSs, not drivers in general. Ever think that maybe people who know the timing of when they are going to arrive at their destination aren't frantically speeding? If they know they're going to get there reasonably on time, they might be slowing down.
This is a sensationalist headline.
Yeah, people do go pretty fast through the I-15. It's a pretty lame stretch of road to take as a scenic route.
yeah that's right, Washington DC is slower because of congestion. Otherwise left lanes are always at 80 mph.
Of course you go faster on I-15 in Utah, or else the mormons will get ya ;)
Its always gonna avg out anyways. Its amazing how almost half of the babies born in the world are males!!!! holy crap.
I don't have a TomTom, but I find this entire story strange. GPS have satellite receivers, not transmitters. How are TomTom collecting the data? Do you need to sync to their web site (e.g. via USB) periodically for map updates? Without some physical connection, I can't see how they would be able to collect this information.
@macemoneta follow related links and you'll see this data was gathered from fleet vehicles
@macemoneta I have a Garmin which keeps a log of all of your trips (pretty detailed if you ask me). The log could be transferred automatically when you connect the device to your computer. Otherwise, I don't see how they can track and collect the data.
Something everyone up to this point has missed about this story, this information is collected by vehicle fleets. i.e. tractor trailers and the like. Used to, they were the worst speeders, but since gas prices skyrocketed I have noticed they are nearly always bang on the speed limit and sometimes below when the limit is rather high. The cost of gas for high speed runs now exceeds the early arrival bonuses.
If they released numbers for personal vehicles, I think the story would be very different.
P.S. What I posted you can't tell from what engadget posted, but is immediately obvious if you follow the article source links.
I don't speed anymore than 87 MPH now, not since I arrived 30 years early.
@darwiniandude Nice one.
So we speed in Utah and in Nevada. The most used areas are 65 MPH posted limit sites, however throughout Utah you can go 80 MPH posted on Interstate 15 in a few places down the state.
What happens when TOM TOM provides this and more data to law enforcement like Google and Yahoo. Whose house did you visit last week, How long was your car there. Were you near the bank that got robbed? Did you meet a "Terrorist" suspect? The list goes on......
I am writing on behalf of TomTom and Tele Atlas. I would like to stress the point that we collect GPS data anonymously, and only on an opt-in basis. We don’t track individuals. Rather, the collective data helps us steer people clear of traffic hot spots and recommend the most efficient routes.