The recent RAC report found that 46 per cent of drivers have been distracted at some point by in-car technology. However it is important that not all technology is tarred with the same brush. Some technologies, such as satellite navigation, have had a positive impact on driver safety. Indeed satnav has delivered significant benefits to drivers all over the world. It enables drivers to make unfamiliar journeys more efficiently and safely. Efficient journeys are good for the environment, due to reduced carbon emissions. By the same token, they also save the driver money on fuel.

Satnavs are in fact much less distracting than some of the alternatives. Trying to look for road signs or house numbers, or even worse, trying to read a map whilst moving can be considerably more dangerous. They also reduce driver stress levels by removing the fear of getting lost and can get the vehicle back on the correct route after an
error has occurred. This can be difficult sometimes when following fixed directions.

Drivers can maintain awareness of the road with their peripheral vision when glancing at a satnav attached to the windscreen, and this is much less distracting than looking down at a CD player on the dashboard. Users should take advice from manufacturers on the safe installation of their satnav. Drivers are accustomed to setting up their mobile phones with a hands-free attachment to prevent distraction whilst driving. They should take the same care with their satnav. They should make sure it doesn’t obscure their vision or is installed in a place that forces them to turn their head away from the road. Like all in-car devices they must be used properly - drivers should not try to re-programme their destination while moving, just as they shouldn't try to send text messages on their phones.

In future, satnavs will further contribute to safety by warning of excessive speed approaching a bend, and, when combined with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, by warning of temporary hazards such as ice or stationary traffic ahead.

Obviously, manufacturers of satnav devices need to make safety of use their highest priority. For instance, too much information hinders rather than helps motorists. What drivers require is the right information, at the right time, clearly expressed.

In the vast majority of cases, satnav improves the safety of our roads and we all need to keep this in perspective. Especially when exceptions that prove the rule are jumped on by the media.

Dispelling the myths of satnav failures
Everyone has read about incidents where drivers get helplessly lost miles from their intended destination. Satnav often gets the blame, though it is commonly due to user error. The satnav can’t tell Newport in Wales from Newport in Essex unless the inputted instructions are clear.

Drivers still need to use common sense and good judgment. Motorists need to understand that satnav should be used as a co-driver and not an autopilot and that road signs should still be taken into consideration, particularly those relating to size and weight restrictions.

Occasionally, satnav routing errors can occur, mainly due to out of date information. Mapping companies welcome feedback from organisations or individuals who have identified problems with inappropriate routing. Current satnav systems can be updated either by installing a new CD / DVD ROM or by connecting them to a computer with an internet connection. But many systems are never updated, perhaps because of cost, or the effort needed to make the update.

The right way forward
There is no room for complacency and that is why we work with industry and academics to ensure that satnavs of the future are as good as they can be. Over the last two years the KTN has run a number of events jointly with the Royal Institute of Navigation and Intellect to explore issues relating to the safe use of satnav devices. In addition, the KTN has responded to the Department for Transport’s (DfT) consultation on "in-vehicle information systems" that raises questions about the amount of regulation that may be needed to improve the situation. We are constantly in touch with all sectors of the market, and invite anyone with an interest to join us.

Satellite navigation has brought huge benefits to our lives, with the right education, installation and manufacture – they will continue to do so well into the future.