GPS directs drivers right to the wall

RACHEL BROWN
August 30, 2009

DASHBOARD satellite navigation systems may have resolved arguments about the best way around town but they are driving us to distraction.

Road safety experts warn that a GPS can increase the risk of having an accident because they distract the driver from the road.

A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that reaching for an electronic device, such as a GPS, increased the risk of collision about six times. A study by the University of Utah showed that distraction from in-vehicle technology could be the equivalent of driving with a blood alcohol level of .08.

Andry Rakotonirainy, an associate professor at the centre for accident research and road safety at Queensland University of Technology, said accidents happened when drivers took their eyes off the road to look at or adjust their GPS.

''Some GPS devices require lots of visual attention and they are the ones which are potentially dangerous. Any device in your car which requires you to take your eyes off the road to operate it significantly increases your risk of having an accident.''

GPS devices can also distract drivers with alarms, beeps or chimes to signal things such as traffic lights, speed cameras or places of interest.

The impact on the road toll of increasing numbers of electronic distractions - GPS, mobile phones and BlackBerries - in vehicles has prompted the US Transport Secretary, Ray LaHood, to organise a summit of transport safety experts, police and legislators next month.

The RTA advises drivers to always set their GPS before setting off and to pull over if they need to adjust it.

In 2002 about 10,000 portable devices were sold in Australia. Last year this figure grew to more than 1 million.

However, Dr Rakotonirainy said: ''Listening to a GPS is obviously a lot safer than trying to read a street map while driving.''

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald