"You've got people driving into the middle of a field because a machine showed a route that was shorter and quicker -- which it ultimately is not," said Rob DeBree, undersheriff in Albany County in southeastern Wyoming."
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It is more likely that GPS units keep more people out of harms way than the very small few who get in trouble with them.
An out-of-date Rand-McNally road atlas has much more of a chance getting a person, looking for a shortcut, lost.
(I've never hear of anyone complain that a paperback road atlas "lulled" them into getting lost.)
In the end - GPS units do more GOOD than harm.
It's not as if these GPS's are like red-light cameras - out there causing more accidents than they prevent.
This is an excellent point.
You never hear a news story of anyone arriving to their destination safely using a GPS when they would otherwise have made a wrong turn and ended up lost or stranded without one. I'm sure this occurs daily (myself included). The people in this story are probably .0001% of the population, but account for 100% of the news stories.
I cant tell you how dangerous I used to be traveling to new citys trying to look at maps and drive. The gps has been a life saver for me
You are right they are but PLEASE remember a GPS is nothing more then a tool like anything else in your car or truck. Use it like one and you will get to were you need to go safe, well and happy. Note keep your Rand McNally Mape up to date as you would your GPS. jolleyr
-- Southern CA Temp 76 and Sunny. Running around with my Nuvi 465T. Getting lost around the country and loving it.
I doubt GPS is the problem... more likely.. the GPS based map
The satellites appear to be doing their job. The maps, however, can lead you astray. For instance...
"The spike has prompted Death Valley National Park in California to caution on its web site that "GPS navigation to sites to remote locations like Death Valley are notoriously unreliable." from http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/us_travel_gps_danger is one example.
I go to Death Valley about once a year. I have, at times, been given instructions to turn left or right onto a road that would take me to my destination. The problem? The road is akin to a fire break, a dry wash, or no road at all where told to turn. This points to problems with map architecture and the software upon which it is dependent. Once must stick to what is known in these situations and not take chances with the unknown such as unmarked roads. I like to have an overall view of an area so I still have the old-fashioned maps available for examination especially if I am in doubt about a particular route that seems dubious at best.
-- Garmin DriveSmart™ 65 & Traffic in Bakersfield, CA
It's simple if you set your preferences to avoid unpaved roads or even if you use "fastest route" instead of "shortest route". Shortest often takes people onto unpaved and impassable roads. It's a very poor setting to use.
There are times when unpaved roads can't be avoided -- they are the only roads available. I lived 7 years in southern Illinois farm country, and every road except state highways are unpaved -- either gravel or dirt. In fact the road we lived on was gravel, and just over 4 miles to the nearest paved road. Times haven't changed there, either. We visited there earlier this spring and that road is still gravel. The good news is that the GPS knew how to get us directly to the address, and out again...
Excellent Point here
From the article:
"You've got people driving into the middle of a field because a machine showed a route that was shorter and quicker -- which it ultimately is not," said Rob DeBree, undersheriff in Albany County in southeastern Wyoming."
----------------------
It is more likely that GPS units keep more people out of harms way than the very small few who get in trouble with them.
An out-of-date Rand-McNally road atlas has much more of a chance getting a person, looking for a shortcut, lost.
(I've never hear of anyone complain that a paperback road atlas "lulled" them into getting lost.)
In the end - GPS units do more GOOD than harm.
It's not as if these GPS's are like red-light cameras - out there causing more accidents than they prevent.
This is an excellent point.
You never hear a news story of anyone arriving to their destination safely using a GPS when they would otherwise have made a wrong turn and ended up lost or stranded without one. I'm sure this occurs daily (myself included). The people in this story are probably .0001% of the population, but account for 100% of the news stories.
Streetpilot C340 Nuvi 2595 LMT
not to use gps
I cant tell you how dangerous I used to be traveling to new citys trying to look at maps and drive. The gps has been a life saver for me
Flip Garmin Street P.330 Garmin 255WT Garmin LM50
Your right
I cant tell you how dangerous I used to be traveling to new citys trying to look at maps and drive. The gps has been a life saver for me
You are right they are but PLEASE remember a GPS is nothing more then a tool like anything else in your car or truck. Use it like one and you will get to were you need to go safe, well and happy. Note keep your Rand McNally Mape up to date as you would your GPS. jolleyr
Southern CA Temp 76 and Sunny. Running around with my Nuvi 465T. Getting lost around the country and loving it.
I doubt GPS is the problem... more likely.. the GPS based map
The satellites appear to be doing their job. The maps, however, can lead you astray. For instance...
"The spike has prompted Death Valley National Park in California to caution on its web site that "GPS navigation to sites to remote locations like Death Valley are notoriously unreliable." from http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/us_travel_gps_danger is one example.
I go to Death Valley about once a year. I have, at times, been given instructions to turn left or right onto a road that would take me to my destination. The problem? The road is akin to a fire break, a dry wash, or no road at all where told to turn. This points to problems with map architecture and the software upon which it is dependent. Once must stick to what is known in these situations and not take chances with the unknown such as unmarked roads. I like to have an overall view of an area so I still have the old-fashioned maps available for examination especially if I am in doubt about a particular route that seems dubious at best.
Garmin DriveSmart™ 65 & Traffic in Bakersfield, CA
Can't Avoid All Unpaved Roads
It's simple if you set your preferences to avoid unpaved roads or even if you use "fastest route" instead of "shortest route". Shortest often takes people onto unpaved and impassable roads. It's a very poor setting to use.
There are times when unpaved roads can't be avoided -- they are the only roads available. I lived 7 years in southern Illinois farm country, and every road except state highways are unpaved -- either gravel or dirt. In fact the road we lived on was gravel, and just over 4 miles to the nearest paved road. Times haven't changed there, either. We visited there earlier this spring and that road is still gravel. The good news is that the GPS knew how to get us directly to the address, and out again...
Garmin Nuvi 1690