Absolute Gadget

While we were in some traffic jam on the way Absolute Gadget towers this morning, we wondered how many car crashes had been caused by people paying too much attention to their trusty satnavs and not enough on the road. Thankfully Direct Line had a new survey out which holds the answer: 300,000.

According to the survey carried out by the insurance company, these little devices have caused one-in-fifty drivers to have, or nearly have, a car crash.

More than a third of users said satnavs caused them uncertainty or confusion, with 11 percent reckoning they led to lost concentration, the survey of more than 2,000 people found.

Three percent of motorists said satnavs caused them to break road rules.

The survey also showed that 26 percent of satnav users said the system had tried to make them go through a no-entry sign or somewhere vehicles were prohibited, while 21 percent had been taken to the wrong place, and 19 percent said it caused them to dawdle or hesitate on a busy road.

Some 18 percent said satnavs had reduced their awareness of what was going on around them, while 10 percent had made a dangerous, late or illegal turn and seven percent said satnavs had caused them to be late because of an unrealistically short journey time.

"Motorists need to realise that while satnavs are a helpful navigation tool, drivers should not follow their instructions to the detriment of road safety," said Maggie Game, head of motor insurance for Direct Line. "If a satnav system gives you an instruction which is likely to endanger other road users, you should ignore it."

"Satnavs are designed to make driving easier and safer. However, they will only do this if you take the time to learn how to properly use a system and understand the benefits of the technology."

Next time we'll be using a paper map or the missus to get us home.

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