Sat Nav - Who honestly needs it?

[Kev]

Be honest, no one needs sat nav do they? I mean the amount sold this year and 2005 was ridiculous. Taxi drivers? They know where everything is anyway. Motorway drivers? Nar, once you know what junction you come off the M6 your fine!

Old fashioned maps rule!

[Howie]

Desire for free satnav
Liverpool Echo

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/sep2005/3/5/0002A18D-5AC3-1339-82FE0C02AC1BF824.jpg

WITH a new model on the way, Citroen is anxious to shift stocks of the current Xsara Picasso and the company is hoping it has found the route to buyers' hearts.

Anyone ordering a Xsara Picasso Desire this month will get a colour touchscreen Garmin StreetPilot satellite navigation system worth £410 thrown in free...

More (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/motors/roadtests/tm_objectid=16568750&method=full&siteid=50061&headline=desire-for-free-satnav--name_page.html)...

:rolleyes:

[Howie]

Driver caution over sat nav systems
Feb 26 2006

They may be the latest must-have motoring gadgets, but most drivers believe in-car satellite navigation systems can cause accidents.

Nearly three-quarters of motorists say the systems are potentially dangerous if drivers take their eyes off the road to use them, a survey from www.motorinsurance.co.uk found.

And 81% of those polled said said drivers should be required to pull in to use their sat nav systems.

Also, two-in-three motorists believe sat nav systems will reduce a driver's ability to read a map.

Only 53% said that such a system would make them more likely to drive in an area they didn't already know.

According to Government estimates there are now 2.2 million vehicles with satellite navigation systems on Britain's roads. And one-in-five of all new cars are fitted with the systems as standard.

Nearly four out of five of the people polled think cars with sat navs are more appealing to thieves.

Andrew Dunkerley, marketing director of www.motorinsurance.co.uk, said: "The vast majority of motorists are law-abiding, sensible drivers, but our poll shows that many people have strong concerns about the impact sat navs can have on a driver's concentration.

"No one wants to have an accident with a driver who's been mucking about with his sat nav and not focusing on the road ahead.

"And drivers should be careful if they choose to install a satellite navigation device because, judging by our poll, it may make their vehicle more attractive to thieves."

Source: icLiverpool (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0300nationalnews/tm_objectid=16748899&method=full&siteid=50061&headline=driver-caution-over-sat-nav-systems-name_page.html)

[victorialush]

I work in the medical transport game and sat navs are essential, both our riders and drivers have tomtoms... not only do they give directions they give job information from the control team, let us know when the drivers have picked up, dropped, gives us proof of delivery signatures straight to our screens... good stuff I reckon :D

[matt]

That's fair enough Vicky, but what does my head in is when you're heading home from work and some beaut in front of you is all over the road coz they're reading their satnav.. . .YOU'RE GOING HOME YOU MUPPET.....YOU KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.....JUST FOLLOW THE F***ING SIGNS!!!!!!! :Colorz_Grey_PDT_16:

[Kev]

That's fair enough Vicky, but what does my head in is when you're heading home from work and some beaut in front of you is all over the road coz they're reading their satnav.. . .YOU'RE GOING HOME YOU MUPPET.....YOU KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.....JUST FOLLOW THE F***ING SIGNS!!!!!!! :Colorz_Grey_PDT_16:

lol

[Max]

What if I get lost in the woods?:eek:

[matt]

http://www.exlibris.ch/images_prod/4006/4006680018379f.jpg

that's what happens if you get lost in the woods Max! LOL!!

[Max]

Well then Sat Nav is needed when your in the woods.:Colorz_Grey_PDT_16:

[matt]

be afraid.....be very afraid.......

[Howie]

Car thieves homing in on expensive satnav systems
Aug 24 2006
By Liam Murphy, Daily Post

DRIVERS who own expensive satnav systems are being advised by police and motoring organisations to remove them when they leave their car after a spate of thefts in Merseyside.

The expensive satellite navigation systems, which can cost anything from £200 upwards, have become a firm favourite with car thieves.

Police in Wirral say the borough has been particularly targeted recently after falls in areas such as Liverpool South which had previously seen increases in the thefts.

Last week out of a total 66 thefts from vehicles in Wirral, 60% were of satnavs.

Acting Supt Phil Davies said: "This was a significant increase which raised our awareness that we had a new problem."

He said: "Some of the thefts have been overnight, but others are during the day, and delivery people have been particular targets, although victims can be from across the range."

He said thieves look for tell-tale signs that a car or van has a satnav, such as the holder being left in place or even suction marks where it attaches to the car window, and often target those vehicles.

Supt Davies said: "We have also had a few cases where it has just been the holders that have been stolen."

He added: "Through August in Wirral we have had 51 arrests for vehicle crimes so far - it's not that we haven't been doing anything, but we need to raise people's awareness of this."

Liz Kennett, of the RAC, said they now advise drivers to remove SatNav systems from their cars, along with anything which would indicate there may be a system hidden in the vehicle.

She said: "We have a lot of anecdotal evidence that thefts of these are on the increase. They are very valuable and thieves can easily sell them on.

"It's important to remember to remove the satnav from display in the car, and preferably take it with you. The key thing is not to advertise you have a satnav."

Owners of satnavs are also being advised not to hide the equipment in the boot or glove compartment as thieves will often still break in if they think the might be a satnav hidden.

Cheshire Police's Crime Reduction Advisor Phil Buckley said: "They will think nothing of smashing your window and ripping the device from your dashboard causing considerable damage in the process."

He added: "Our advice is to remove everything associated with the device from your vehicle when it's unattended."

Luke Bosdet, of the AA Motoring Trust, said they were aware of many occasions when people had removed their satnav only to find their car had still be broken into by thieves who had seen telltale marks on their car window.

* ANYONE with information about crime can contact Cheshire Police on 0845 458 0000, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

* OWNERS of satnavs in Wirral can get security advice by contacting the Crime Reduction Officers on 606 5480. Advice is also available at www.merseyside.police.uk

liammurphy@dailypost.co.uk

Source: icLiverpool (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17617068%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26headline=car%2dthieves%2dhoming%2din%2don%2dexpe nsive%2dsatnav%2dsystems-name_page.html)

[bazzacat]

I think people should still learn how to read maps etc, this over reliance on technology and convenience bugs me

What will people do if an energy crisis comes?

Another thing that gets me is ready made sauces and the like, no nutrition, no taste, but CONVENIENT