Sat-navs raise risk of head-on collision for 10% of drivers
More than one in 10 drivers have been sent the wrong way down a one-way street by their sat-navs, risking a head-on collision.
The RAC surveyed 1,601 UK drivers and found that 91% said they use a sat-nav, with eight per cent using it for every journey, 30% on most trips, and 53% using it occasionally.
However, the research found 52% said they sat navs didn’t warn them of upcoming traffic jams while 44% said they had been sent down narrow roads.
More worryingly, 11% said they had been sent the wrong way down a one-way street and 19% said they were sent down dead-ends that were difficult to reverse out of.
RAC Breakdown spokesperson Harriet Hernando said: “Sat-navs are used by the majority of drivers, and can be a useful tool to help us get from A to B. But what this data shows is that people shouldn’t blindly follow the directions but continue to pay close attention to road signage and tap into any local knowledge they have of the area.
“While it’s tempting to just jump in the car and punch in the postcode on your chosen sat-nav and follow along, it’s best to look at the journey more closely before setting off so you have a good idea of where you’re going and what routes you could take depending on the traffic.
“Worryingly, one-in-10 said their sat-navs sent them down a one-way road the wrong way, risking a head-on collision. With several fatalities attributed to sat-navs, it’s important to pay attention to road signage and ensure devices are fully updated with the latest changes to the road network.”
