Part of Professional and Demanding Journeys
Written for Professional and Demanding Journeys
Article 10 of 10
People sometimes ask why I became so interested in road navigation.
The answer lies in my years as a professional driver working in London and the surrounding areas.
Every day brought unfamiliar destinations, changing priorities and constant time pressure. There was no opportunity to waste time stopping to unfold maps or repeatedly switching between different navigation methods.
I wanted one system that could do everything.
Like many drivers, I began using a satnav. However, I soon realised that simply following spoken instructions was not enough. Professional driving demanded much more than that.
Controllers would sometimes telephone and ask a simple question: "Where are you?" Sometimes they had another job nearby, or another pickup that needed covering. Drivers who understood where they were and how the road network fitted together were far more valuable than those who simply followed directions from a device.
As a new professional driver, I had to learn quickly just to keep up with more experienced colleagues.
That experience changed the way I thought about satnavs.
Many experienced drivers still recommend studying a map before setting off and then using the satnav during the journey.
My thinking became slightly different. A satnav already contains a map. Instead of treating it purely as an instruction machine, why not learn to use the map that is already on the screen?
By adjusting the map scale appropriately, I could see the overall route as well as the detailed instructions ahead. The satnav became both my planning tool and my navigation aid. I did not have to keep switching between a paper map and the satnav. Everything I needed was available on one screen.
My goal was never simply to reach the destination. I wanted every journey to improve my knowledge of the road network.
Rather than becoming dependent on the satnav, I wanted the satnav to help me become a better navigator.
That thinking eventually led me to develop the six principles described in Road Navigation: The Principles Explained. They encourage drivers to understand the journey, plan ahead, observe continuously and make informed decisions instead of blindly following instructions.
When I first began developing this approach, satnav map displays were relatively basic. Today's systems are much more detailed, with larger displays, smoother zooming and clearer mapping. This makes it easier than ever to use the satnav's own map to understand the overall journey as well as receive turn-by-turn guidance.
Technology has advanced. The need for good navigation skills has not.
After all, the satnav may guide the journey. The driver still decides.
The satnav may guide the journey. The driver still decides.