subject: The pros and cons of using a sat nav [print this page] The pros and cons of using a sat nav The pros and cons of using a sat nav
GPS navigation systems have changed the driving experience irrevocably, and many drivers who are now accustomed to the satellite technology cannot conceive how they ever lived without it. However, numerous instances have demonstrated that drivers should not be so nave as to put their fate and that of their passengers entirely in the hands of their sat nav systems.
Prior to sat nav systems taking off, the most common way of finding where you were going was to rely on a human navigator reading an ungainly and often out-of-date map in the passenger seat. While sat nav systems sometimes make mistakes that are down to changes being made since location-based data was collected, on the whole they are much more practical to use for a driver travelling on their own, because they can give out directions, even when a driver is in a car alone.
If you're using a portable GPS system, as opposed to one built in to your vehicle, you could face additional problems. The small size of the display screen can make portable GPS systems more difficult to read and interpret than hardwired models, and they can also present tempting targets for thieves if left unattended in your vehicle. With in-built GPS systems typically boasting greater reception than handheld units, and also often doubling up as multimedia players, there are clear advantages of convenience to choosing cars with this technology already fitted.
Unfortunately, this presents another drawback in itself - the price of cars with GPS built-in, which can often make them unrealistic options for motorists. The good news for those who desire sat nav capability is that the technology is becoming cheaper all the time as it becomes more available, so it shouldn't be too long before sat nav is considered a standard feature of all cars, comparable to the stereo.
While sat nav systems have more advantages than drawbacks today's drivers may be becoming too complacent, due to the technology making all their decisions for them. The worst case scenario is that drivers who become too reliant on sat nav systems could be more likely to get involved in collisions and other accidents that would easily have been avoided if applying common sense, as well as run the risk of these incidents not being covered by their online car insurance policy if they were found to be the party at fault.
The author of this article is a part of a digital blogging team who work with brands like LV. The content contained in this article is for information purposes only and should not be used to make any financial decisions.
