| The arrival of GPS satellite navigation systems in | | | | the route you may be told to take may not be the |
| recent years have made driver’s lives a lot easier. | | | | most suitable and you should keep your wits about |
| All you need to do is plug in the name of the street | | | | you as normal before taking any turn or new road. It is |
| or postcode of where you want to go and in next to | | | | good practice to check the route you have been given |
| no time your sat nav will have worked out the best | | | | before you set off on your journey, as this will enable |
| route and have you on your way. No longer do you | | | | you to determine whether the roads are suitable for |
| need to rely on having a co-passenger read the map | | | | your vehicle. |
| and try their best to get you back on the right road, or | | | | Even if you do check the route before you go, you still |
| rely on some hastily written directions committed to | | | | need to ensure that you full attention is given to the |
| memory and a hope you will eventually get to where | | | | road whilst driving. Satellite navigation systems can |
| you want to be go. Many sat nav systems have | | | | provide an easy distraction, as there is often so much |
| some great additional extras such as built in speed | | | | information being displayed on thescreen. Not all of this |
| camera warnings to help you control your speed and | | | | information will be relevant to your journey and |
| avoid any fines. Others have mapping systems for the | | | | therefore it is often wise to ensure the settings of the |
| whole of Europe should you decide to venture out of | | | | GPS are configured to your specific needs before |
| Ireland and drive on the continent. Prices for the | | | | setting off. It goes without saying that you must also |
| systems have been dropping, making them an | | | | program your route into the sat nav before your start |
| affordable addition to Christmas and birthday lists and | | | | your journey and should you feel you need to make |
| you can now even buy them in your local supermarket | | | | any chances you must stop your vehicle in a safe |
| along with your groceries if you so wish. However | | | | place to do so. |
| they do have some down sides, which you should be | | | | Satellite navigation systems can even cause problems |
| aware of. Recent research has found that as | | | | when they are not in use. Despite their drop in price |
| driver’s become more reliant on their GPS they | | | | they are still desired by thieves and leaving one on |
| can start to develop bad habits. They tend to focus | | | | display could result in your car being broken in to. This |
| more on what they are being told by their sat nav | | | | in turn could lead you to losing your no claims bonus |
| systems and less on what the road signs are saying. | | | | with your a car insurance. or facing a hefty repair bill. |
| This has led to many news reports of people stuck in | | | | So even though sat navs have a whole host of |
| rivers or stranded down single track country roads. In | | | | benefits to recommend them, before you buy yourself |
| addition your sat nav does not know what type of car | | | | a navigating friend you should consider the cons as |
| you are driving, you could be in a Mini or a truck; be | | | | well. |
| towing nothing or have a big trailer on the back. Thus | | | | |