Safe Speed Forums

Apologies if this has been posted before:

http://www.tomtom.com/lib/img/pr/32324%20TNO_ES-UK.PDF

Whilst the report's independence could be questioned given who contributed to funding it, the body itself is fairly reputable.

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I won't slave for beggar's pay,
likewise gold and jewels,
but I would slave to learn the way
to sink your ship of fools

The report does make it clear that the figures only apply to driving in unfamiliar surroundings however it would be useful if there had been some figures on what proportion of mileage is done on unfamiliar roads compared with overall mileage.

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Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

Indeed - I wonder how many people use sat nav in "familiar" surroundings though? (They would worry me a bit )

_________________
I won't slave for beggar's pay,
likewise gold and jewels,
but I would slave to learn the way
to sink your ship of fools

You know what I meant

The improvement quoted only applies while using satnav so assuming it is not used in familiar situations the headline figure could be much lower. I probably spend around 75% of my mileage on familiar roads and closer to 90% if measured in hours.

This research is interesting when applied to the 'satnav is distracting so dangerous' theory. It would seem that the apparent distraction of a satnav may be less of a problem than the distraction of trying navigate in unfamiliar surroundings.

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Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

The distraction caused by being lost completely swamps the miniscule distraction of sat nav. I drive a lot in unfamilier places and have used maps+signs as well as sat nav over the years. Maps are fine until a road you intended to use is closed or you miss a turning, then things get interesting in unfamiliar places.

Interesting, I have not used satnav myself so good to get some user confirmation.

I have to rely on WifeNav, though generally this is when we are on holiday so occasionally getting lost is part of the fun. She has an interactive voice command system so no glances at the screen or pressing of buttons is required, there is a minor firmware glitch that occasionally reverses left and right though. Upgrading to a new model would be ruinessly expensive and besides I have become quite attached to her.

Are there any other examples of systems which are identifiable as reducing safety but in actual fact are better than the alternative? Something equivalent to the distraction vs distraction above which is potentially testable rather than speed cameras vs speeding. It may be speed cameras can be addressed at some point but I am trying to think of cases that could be tested by comparison better than the difference between doing something or not doing it.

A few of the other recent threads such as the 'representation' one have been bouncing around in my thoughts recently and I have been trying to think of ways of getting quantifiable results to help link things together.

Sorry I think I have just rambled completely off topic.

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Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

Indeed - in the past if driving to somewhere unfamiliar I've printed out step-by-step maps (from ViaMichelin) and still got caught out a couple of times by missed turnings/closed roads.

You'd worry about me then

Seriously - I make some journeys on a regular basis, where I still take my TomTom even though I know where I'm going. There are a couple of reasons for this though - firstly it's easier to just click 'Alternative Route' while driving if you hit a traffic jam with a route already planned (rather than planning a route from scratch), and also it gives me warnings ..

I've finally got a Tom Tom, and i have to say that it is useful...but it can be very distracting.

But is it more or less distracting than being lost?

This is an interesting point. Put it this way, I am certainly more concious that there are times when sat nav is 'actively' effecting my driving and is certainly distracting.

when i'm lost whilst i don't seem to notice distraction from a multitasking viewpoint I have no idea if the 'fluster and panic' of being lost (and or late) is having an impact however.

I am not sure you need to be lost, you will be looking at signs for road numbers, road names and towns etc. This cannot do anything other than take your attention from other things, the degree of and potential for danger is of course highly variable. To some extent you also have little choice as to when you look at a sign as you are restricted to the window in which it is visible and you have time to comprehend the information and react to it.

The research seems to show that the distraction of a satnav is less than that of traditional navigation. EDIT- The effect on you may be different, this is a statistical result after all.

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Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

That's because you have only just got it. Once the novelty has worn off you will barely notice it until you need it.

I agree. You can also turn the screen off and just use the voice directions.

And the voice directions don't sulk when you argue with them...

Unless you tell them that her fag smoke is offensive - sorry i've got the old fashioned sat nav - called the "wife", better model than the daughter who at last attempt read map upside down