41% Fined Last Year
Drivers who use speed camera apps run a significantly higher risk of a traffic fine than drivers who do not use such an app. This is according to research by comparison site Independer.
A survey showed that 41 percent of speed camera app users received at least one fine in the past year. Among drivers without a speed camera app, this was 19 percent. Interestingly, speed camera apps are supposed to help prevent fines by warning drivers about speed cameras and mobile speed checks. But that seems to work out differently in practice.
“Relying on notifications can lead you to drive faster when you don’t hear anything,” says Michel Ypma, insurance expert at Independer. “That increases the chance of fines. Especially if you are warned too late or wrongly think there is no control. It is better to moderate your speed for safety, not just for the fines.”
Men and Young People More Often Fined
A quarter of all Dutch motorists received a traffic fine in the past year. Men appear to be the frontrunners in this, according to the survey: 33 percent of them received a fine, compared to 21 percent of women. Of the men surveyed, 42 percent say they use a speed camera app, compared to 30 percent of women.
Young people between 18 and 29 years old are relatively often fined: 45 percent of them were fined, while that is only 16 percent for people over 60.
At the same time, young people experience the high car insurance premiums as age discrimination: 63 percent of young drivers think they unfairly pay more. According to Ypma, there is a logical explanation: “Young drivers have little driving experience and no claim-free years. Therefore, insurers see them as a greater risk, which leads to higher premiums and – as it now turns out – more fines.”
More Driving, More Risk
That speed camera app users are fined more often, according to Independer, can partly be explained by the fact that they are simply on the road more often. Yet Ypma emphasizes: “A speed camera app should never be an excuse to increase speed. Ultimately, it’s about staying alert and driving safely.”