Why Does Fitbit Count Steps While You Are Driving?

Fitbit devices are designed to count steps using advanced sensors, including an accelerometer that detects motion. However, while driving, the device can sometimes misinterpret the movements of your car as steps. This can lead to inaccurate step counts, which can be frustrating, especially if you are paying for accurate health data.

Vibration Sensitivity

One of the main reasons Fitbit might count steps while you are driving is the high sensitivity of its accelerometer to vibrations. When you are in a car, the road surface can be bumpy, and these vibrations can be picked up by the device. If you are holding the steering wheel, these vibrations can be mistaken for step-like movements, leading to inaccurate step counts.

Arm Movement

Another factor that contributes to this inaccuracy is the movement of your arm while holding the steering wheel. Up and down movements of your arm can be detected as step-like motions, causing the device to count steps that are not actually taken.

Calibration Issues

Fitbit devices are not always perfectly calibrated, especially for distinguishing between different types of motion. This can result in misinterpretations of movements, leading to incorrect step counts.

How to Minimize Inaccurate Step Counts

To reduce the likelihood of Fitbit counting steps while you are driving, consider the following tips:

Wear Your Fitbit on Your Non-Dominant Wrist

By wearing your Fitbit on the wrist that you do not use as your dominant hand, you can make the device less sensitive to motions associated with driving. This placement can help reduce the number of steps that are inaccurately counted.

Adjust Sensitivity Settings

If your Fitbit device allows for sensitivity adjustments, you can tweak the settings to make the device more selective about the movements it counts. This can help in reducing the number of steps that are incorrectly detected while you are driving.

Alternative Solutions

Several alternative solutions have been suggested by users and platforms to address this issue:

DriveBit App

The DriveBit app is designed to help you manage your Fitbit activity while driving. It allows you to start and stop your driving activity, which prevents the device from counting steps during that period. This is a more user-friendly solution than manually deleting steps from the desktop website.

Switch to Dominant Wrist

Switching your Fitbit to your dominant wrist can make the device less sensitive to the movements associated with driving. This adjustment can significantly reduce the number of steps counted while you are in the car.

Steps Deletion

Some users have suggested setting a specific time frame for driving in the Fitbit app and subsequently deleting the steps that fall within that period. While this can be effective, it is a cumbersome process and not user-friendly, especially if you need to do it daily.

While Fitbit counts steps in the car, there are several effective solutions to address this issue, ranging from using apps like DriveBit to adjusting your device settings. By taking these steps, you can ensure that your Fitbit provides accurate step counts while you are driving.