A top auto company official told me that when he was recently driving through Georgia he was stopped for allegedly exceeding the speed limit. He was given a "pass" when he convinced the officers that his car was equipped with a certified speedometer and since their car wasn't, their speedometer was in error and he wasn't speeding after all. The story proves a good case for certified speedometers.

Most auto companies offer certified speedometers as options for police cars. I would like them to go one step further and include them as standard equipment on all cars. A certified speedometer would be a valuable tool for fleet users.

Currently, the auto industry uses speedometers which have a built-in "plus factor" or margin of error. This is said to be for the driver's protection. Translated, if the speedometer indicates a car is traveling 50 miles per hour, it actually is moving about three or four miles slower.

The "plus factor" results in an inaccurate odometer, usually about half of the speedometer deviation. This can cost money for some fleet operators. Since the odometer readings are on the plus side, a salesman being paid on a cent-per-mile basis gets more money than he is entitled to. For example, if an odometer is off l/10th of a mile, a fleet with 1,000 cars would pay out $3,222 more than it should each year. This is the equivalent of the profits from about $100,000 in sales.

Rental companies face a different problem with inaccurate odometers. Since rental companies charge on a per mile basis, they actually receive more than they should. However, it would be impractical to charge on the basis of highway marker miles. As long as the present inaccuracy exists in odometers, renting companies should make certain that all of their contracts call for mileage to be based on the odometer reading.

Fleet users should be concerned with inaccurate speedometer and odometer readings. They should use their influence to get accurate readings by bringing pressure upon the auto industry. This can be done through such associations as the National Assn. of Fleet Administrators and the Car and Truck Renting and Leasing Assn. just to name two. Fleets represent a big chunk of business to the automakers - and they are willing to listen to recommendations from fleet operators.

In fairness to the auto makers, the industry is aware of the problem. Engineers from two companies told me that they are exploring it. Actually, problem is a misnomer. The industry can turn out accurate speedometers and odometers - witness the certified options for police cars. The gears which propel the speedometer and odometer mechanism are manufactured to order by suppliers on specifications supplied by auto engineers.

Naturally, the auto industry is most concerned with the average motorist - he makes up the largest segment of the buying public. However, there are indications that motorists are becoming aware of the inaccuracy of speedometers and odometers.

Until such time as accurate gauges become commonplace, it might be worth the extra cost for fleet owners to order the police type certified units - or to buy cars that offer such units. The extra cost, with today's profit pinch, could pay for itself.

And, here's a tip from Automotive Fleet. If you use Dodge cars and are in the market for a new car, look around at Custom 880 models. Many of the first 880s off the assembly line were equipped with Dodge police type certified speedometers.