Drivers have been warned they could be hit with huge fines for breaking major traffic rules in place across Wales without knowing it.
In the past few years, motorists in Wales have been forced to adhere to strict 20mph speed limits across the country, with rule breakers fined roughly £100.
However, according to experts, drivers who still use sat navs and smartphone apps could be unintentionally breaking the law due to the system being out of date with new regulations.
In North Wales alone, speeding offences increased from 62,742 in 2023 to 97,088 in 2024, with many of them taking place on the newly designated 20mph routes.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailingmotoring@gbnews.uk
Drivers can be fined £100 for breaking the speed limit in the UK
PA/GETTY
While the new speed limits have been in place for almost two years, experts have warned that many factory-fitted car systems, which rely on SD cards or unpatched software, have not automatically updated to include the new 20mph rules.
Older versions of popular navigation apps on smartphones, like Google Maps and Waze, are among the software which may not have fully incorporated the new speed limits, putting thousands of drivers at risk of fines.
In one case, a driver travelling to Wales was left unsure of the right speed limits due to the app she was using being inaccurate.
She said: "On a recent trip to see family in Pembrokeshire in Wales, I relied heavily on apps like Google Maps to not only get me there, but also to get me around.
"I quickly noticed that the speed limits shown on the app didn’t always match the road signs, and in a few smaller towns and villages, some speed signs had even been tampered with, leaving me even more confused. It left me feeling quite unsure about what the actual speed limit was as I was driving through."
She warned that even though the new 20mph limits have been in place for a while now, "it’s so easy to slip up when you’re used to driving 30mph in most towns and villages in England".
Alicia Hempsted, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, added: "Many drivers place complete trust in sat navsor apps, unaware that these tools may be showing outdated speed limits. But even if it’saccidental, you can still be fined for speeding."
She explained that drivers caught speeding could see their annual premium increase by up to £179. “Keeping your tech updated is essential, and if in doubt, always follow what the road signs say over your phone or sat nav,” Hempsted insisted.
While the 20mph speed limits hope to reduce road casualties in Wales, they were met with outrage by drivers who resorted to signing the largest petition the country has ever seen.
In total, it received 469,571 signatures from drivers calling for the immediate removal of the scheme. In response, the Welsh Government agreed to give local authorities the power to reverse speed limits back to 30mph.
Offering tips to drivers to avoid getting caught out with fines, MoneySuperMarket suggested updating the vehicle's built-in sat nav system regularly, especially if it uses an SD card.
Hempsted shared: "Updating your system might sound technical, but it’s often a quick process. For in-car systems, most require removing the SD card or USB, plugging it into a computer, and downloading updates via the manufacturer’s website.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The Welsh Government has been allowing local authorities to change speed limits back to 30mph
GETTY"If your computer doesn’t have an SD card slot, you can use an inexpensive SD card reader that plugs into a USB port."
