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July 22, 2008

Satnav devices responsible for 300,000 accidents

14 million Brits now rely on GPS instructions

Carrie-Ann Skinner

Satnav devices are responsible for 300,000 road accidents every year, according to insurance firm Direct Line.

Over 14 million Brits now rely on a GPS device when driving. The survey polled 2,000 motorists and based on the results, Direct Line claims 1.5 million of the 14 million satnav users in the UK had veered across lanes or performed other sudden manoeuvres because they consulted the device. The research also highlighted that one in ten drivers said the systems had caused them to make an illegal turn.

One in five drivers also admitted to losing track of traffic because they were distracted by a sat nav, while one in four had been told to drive the wrong way down a one-way street.

"If a satnav gives you an instruction that is likely to endanger other road users, ignore it," said Maggie Game of Direct Line.

"Motorists must realise that while they are a helpful navigation tool, they should not follow their instructions to the detriment of road safety. Satnavs are designed to make driving easier and safer. However, they will only do this if you take the time to learn how to properly use a system and understand the benefits of the technology," she added.

and

TomTom gets go-ahead to acquire Google Maps maker

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