Satnav may raise car insurance premiums

Posted :21-02-2006

The usefulness of in-car satellite navigation has been called into question by new research which showed the technology can be both highly distracting and highly dangerous for drivers.

A survey conducted by YouGov for Privilege Insurance, found that in-car satellite navigation equipment can cause crashes as drivers fiddle with the controls rather than watch the road.

More than ten per cent of British motorists admitted to setting a satnav computer while on the move, rather than programming it before departure. Half of these drivers said it meant taking their eyes off the road.

As a result, cars fitted with satnav frequently have higher car insurance premiums imposed.

The devices were designed to replace maps by allowing drivers to keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.

However, the survey has indicated that satnav is just as distracting as a map. Just under a fifth of drivers have lost concentration while using satnav, compared to just 17 per cent of map readers.

James Gore, spokesman for Privilege, said: "If drivers use these gadgets at 70mph on the motorway it's a recipe for disaster. They can be an aid to safety but like many things they can be a major distraction if used incorrectly.

"We've all been lost on a country road and it can be quite stressful, and satnav can be a great help.

"But drivers need to be sensible and make sure that using these things doesn't distract them from the task in hand, which is concentrating on the road."


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