NEWS: Garmin Research Reveals 1/3 Brits Can't Read A Map

















GPS Tech experts, Garmin have conducted research to celebrate their 25th anniversary year revealing that "one third of Brits are unable to read a map and too ashamed to admit it." 
Hang your head in shame Road Magazine says! Despite GPS technology having a vital, undeniable place in modern driving, planning a journey using a traditional map book and OS map is still one of life's great road tripping pleasures. Sort it out!  
The survey shockingly uncovered that 39% of people haven't a clue how to navigate using a traditional map book and 16% are "heavily reliant on a sat nav" – even using it for journeys they make often.
It also uncovered:
* Almost half (40%) of people refuse to openly admit when they get lost for fear of embarrassment. 
* Almost a third (29%) refuse to seek help and ask for directions altogether, despite being lost, with over a quarter (27%) more men compared to women who admit to being too proud to ask for directions. 
* Arguing over directions continues to be one the biggest driving bugbears with a third (33%) of people revealing that they regularly find themselves in these arguments with their partner. 
* More than a quarter (27%) of men are likely to lie and secretly consult their sat nav without telling their partner in order to impress with their navigational skills and reduce any arguments.
Kirsty Quartley, Garmin PND Product Manager comments: "The research highlights just how reliant we are on technology to help get us through our everyday routines and it is becoming increasingly clear that without it, people simply feel ‘lost’, and as is the case without the security of some form of navigation device nearby, that becomes literal.
"Rather than seeing technology as consuming traditional skills like map reading, it should be celebrated for delivering speed, accuracy and safety – for example, dash cams are now seen as an important tool in helping to reduce road rage and side-vision cameras to eliminate blind spots to keep vulnerable road users safe.
"Our sat nav usage has evolved over time from being a tool that just gets you from A-B to delivering features that help reduce the stress of driving. Sat navs are also doing their bit to make sure you operate more safely in the car with many products offering hands-free calling, voice-activated navigation and audible prompts to ensure you are in the right lane when making complex lane changes at busy junctions. No more excuses of ‘traffic queues made me late’ and no more arguing about whether you are in the right lane – the sat nav is right!"

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