Please proceed to the nearest route
When out perusing the aisles of a car showroom there are often certain questions that fall from our mouths whilst we attempt to find a new vehicle. Does it have in-built sat-nav? Does it come with connected Bluetooth? Does it have parking sensors and cruise control?
Although some of these questions are perfectly normal, others (such as ones that involve connecting our phones) hide a deeper notion that we are becoming more attracted to connected technology in our vehicles rather than its ability to get us from point A to point B.
This leads to a lapse in memory among drivers, as we start to forget about the lingering dangers of technology.
Last week, I looked at the problem with hands-free devices and whether or not they really were safe, and this week I will be looking at another guilty party - the trusty sat-nav.
Studies have shown that using connected technology factored into over 300,000 accidents, and road safety charity Brake, found that 15% of drivers using a sat-nav have made illegal or dangerous manoeuvres because it had sent them the wrong way and they needed to correct themselves.
Yes it is safer than actually pulling a map out of the glove compartment and navigating around a town, but it doesn’t always process changes to roads and you often have to pay a lot to update the device for it to register any new routes.
Here are some things you need to remember before you put all of your trust in your sat-nav.
Update your device
Some drivers will often forget to plug the sat-nav into the computer and download any updates on a regular basis. Doing this will ensure it has the latest routes downloaded on to it which should mean you have a smooth and pleasant journey.
Don’t go into auto-pilot
A sat-nav doesn’t always have the capability to tell you if there has been an accident, and it cannot forecast traffic problems. So avoid slipping into auto-pilot and getting content with the road. Keep an eye on digital road signs to make sure you are aware of the road ahead.
Basic resources
Should you end up getting lost, you should make sure you have some basic resources to hand including: an in-car charger just in case your phone dies on you, a road map so that you can find an alternative route should your sat-nav not be updated properly, and finally a number for your breakdown provider. If you get caught someone and you can’t get out, your breakdown cover provider will be able to come and rescue you!
Although some of these questions are perfectly normal, others (such as ones that involve connecting our phones) hide a deeper notion that we are becoming more attracted to connected technology in our vehicles rather than its ability to get us from point A to point B.
This leads to a lapse in memory among drivers, as we start to forget about the lingering dangers of technology.
Last week, I looked at the problem with hands-free devices and whether or not they really were safe, and this week I will be looking at another guilty party - the trusty sat-nav.
Studies have shown that using connected technology factored into over 300,000 accidents, and road safety charity Brake, found that 15% of drivers using a sat-nav have made illegal or dangerous manoeuvres because it had sent them the wrong way and they needed to correct themselves.
Yes it is safer than actually pulling a map out of the glove compartment and navigating around a town, but it doesn’t always process changes to roads and you often have to pay a lot to update the device for it to register any new routes.
Here are some things you need to remember before you put all of your trust in your sat-nav.
Update your device
Some drivers will often forget to plug the sat-nav into the computer and download any updates on a regular basis. Doing this will ensure it has the latest routes downloaded on to it which should mean you have a smooth and pleasant journey.
Don’t go into auto-pilot
A sat-nav doesn’t always have the capability to tell you if there has been an accident, and it cannot forecast traffic problems. So avoid slipping into auto-pilot and getting content with the road. Keep an eye on digital road signs to make sure you are aware of the road ahead.
Basic resources
Should you end up getting lost, you should make sure you have some basic resources to hand including: an in-car charger just in case your phone dies on you, a road map so that you can find an alternative route should your sat-nav not be updated properly, and finally a number for your breakdown provider. If you get caught someone and you can’t get out, your breakdown cover provider will be able to come and rescue you!
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