July 2008 Car News - GBCarLoans.com

22nd July 2008

Satnavs recommending dangerous routes, insurer warns

Satnav systems are causing drivers to take unnecessarily dangerous routes, a car insurance provider has warned.

According to NFU Mutual, the systems frequently cause drivers to opt for routes along rural roads where accidents are more commonplace.

This is borne out by government statistics which show that car users are three times more likely to die on a country lane than on an urban thoroughfare.

In response, the insurance firm has urged drivers to apply common sense when using their satnav.

Ian Jewitt of NFU Mutual risk management services said: "The survey shows that there is still an alarming lack of knowledge about the hazards of rural roads.

"It's particularly worrying that a quarter of satnav users continue to follow the gadget's instructions even when their eyes tell them they are heading up a farm track. This may account for some of the reports of vehicles stuck in fields and deep fords."

 

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