Motorists unsatisfied with satellite navigation systems

Most car insurance policy holders are unsatisfied with their in-car satellite navigation systems, according to new research from a leading insurance provider.

A survey of 3,000 car owners revealed that 79 per cent of motorists, or four in every five drivers, have disregarded directions issued by their sat nav systems while on-route.

The majority of drivers who chose not to follow the directions provided by the sat nav manufacturer explained that the route provided seemed to be a less efficient path to their destination.

The research further revealed that when sat nav directions are in fact incorrect, car owners have to drive a further 5.9 miles, on average, in order to reach their destination.

Most motorists polled by the insurance provider admitted their sat navs seemed untrustworthy, inaccurate and a root cause of in-car arguments between drivers and passengers.

63 per cent of drivers admitted to keeping a road map in their car in case their sat nav system should misguide them.

Commenting on the research, car insurance expert Steve Chelton explained that sat navs can be the source of much frustration for motorists.

Chelton advised car owners to plan journeys in advance and to invest in route maps.

"An in-car sat nav is a helpful tool when embarking on a journey and many drivers gain benefit from using one," Chelton said.

"However, if used incorrectly or if a system is faulty, a sat nav can make a journey extremely stressful and much longer than it needs to be.

"To avoid any destination-related disasters, drivers need to make sure that they have spent time planning their journey in advance, and having a map as a backup is always a good idea."

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 06:13:00 GMT