Driver’s Lose Ability to Follow a Map

Online auction retailer eBay has released new research that reveals more than two thirds (69%) of drivers have experienced problems when driving without Sat Nav assistance, with one in five motorists (20%) not confident with reading a traditional road map.

And I can attest to this on a personal note, because whilst my talents lie in being a car nerd, I cannot easily follow a map, or remember directions, so for me, a Sat Nav is a game changing piece of technology that I will find difficult to live without.

Surprisingly only a fifth of drivers (21%) use Sat Nav or navigation apps in almost every journey even when they already know the route, because unlike 20 years ago with early Sat Nav tech, apps and new navigation systems will show live traffic information, which is invaluable for commuting, for example.

Smartphone Maps

46% of drivers that do regularly rely on a Sat Nav use a smartphone app, either on their phone screen or through phone mirroring into the cars main display.

For those not using a Sat Nav, or navigation app, 45% admit that they have got lost or taken a wrong turn, while 31% felt elevated stress levels, and 29% travelled further than necessary. A quarter have arrived late to their destination without a Sat Nav to help.

eBay says “the research has demonstrated that navigation technology has become an everyday driving companion, rather than simply something motorists turn to when they do not know the way. So much so that one in five (21%) drivers say they use Sat Nav or navigation apps on every or most journeys even when they already know the route.”

Smartphone Mirroring

One of the largest surges in Sat Nav use has come from Smartphones being one of the most commonly used navigation methods either displayed directly from the phone in a cradle, or through phone mirroring. Just 29% rely on their vehicle’s built-in navigation system, but maps have really lost out to the surge in use of Sat Nav as only 5% now use a physical map.

eBay’s research found motorists want more features with 36% saying live traffic information is among the most useful features, followed by 34% who say estimated arrival times are something they most depend on for being punctual. 27% of users choose automatic route recalculation as their number one choice for using a Sat Nav.

Abir Tewari, UK Director of Commercial Operations, Parts & Accessories at eBay, said: “Sat Nav technology has transformed the way motorists get around. Drivers are no longer only using it when they do not know the way, but as an everyday tool to help with everything from traffic status to journey times.”