Part of Live Traffic and Rerouting
Written for Everyday Drivers
Article 03 of 09
Helpful Adviser or Unwanted Backseat Driver?
Many drivers have noticed that modern satnavs behave differently from the devices of a few years ago. A route that seemed settled at the start of the journey can suddenly change. A voice announces: ‘A faster route is available.’ Two minutes later, the original route may be preferred again.
For some drivers this feels helpful. For others, it can be frustrating and unsettling.
Traditional satnavs planned a route and generally stuck to it unless the driver made a mistake. Modern systems such as Google Maps and Waze constantly monitor traffic conditions. They use information from thousands of other users to estimate delays, identify congestion, and suggest alternatives while the journey is already underway. The route is no longer fixed. It is being revised continuously.
The problem is that the satnav is usually trying to answer one question: ‘How can I get there fastest?’ Drivers may be asking a different question: ‘How can I get there safely and with the least stress?’
The quickest route may involve unfamiliar roads, multiple lane changes, difficult junctions, or narrow country lanes. Saving a few minutes is not always worth the extra workload.
Live Traffic is best seen as advice rather than instruction. A suggested route change should be considered, not automatically obeyed.
Ask yourself:
If the answer is no, it is often perfectly reasonable to continue as you are.
Missing an opportunity to save a few minutes is rarely a serious problem. Making a hurried decision to catch a changing instruction can be.
Modern satnavs are powerful tools, but they do not remove the need for judgement. In many ways, Live Traffic has made navigation skills more important than ever.
The satnav guides. The driver decides.