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300,000 UK Motorists Say GPS Lead Them Into Danger -- But Not All Of Them Followed
from the if-your-gps-told-you-to-jump-off-a-bridge,-would-you-do-it? dept
Drivers in the UK seem to really have a problem with completely relying on GPS navigation directions. But it's hard to believe the headline that GPS devices caused 300,000 crashes for motorists across the pond. Based on a quick search, the UK's Department for Transport reported less than 500,000 traffic accidents in 2001 on all the roads in the UK. So unless the number of traffic accidents has skyrocketed over the last few years, it would seem that GPS devices are to blame for a significant number of vehicle accidents. (It's not clear over what time period those 300,000 GPS-caused accidents occurred -- but presumably those 300,000 crashes didn't start happening in the 1980's.)
However, the UK poll actually says that one in fifty UK drivers -- about 300,000 motorists -- blames GPS for causing or nearly causing an accident -- which is hardly the same thing as GPS devices causing 300,000 accidents. But even so, if the poll numbers are accurate, it also seems amazing that there isn't a follow-up headline regarding a class action lawsuit against these "dangerous" GPS devices. Clearly, there are a sizable number of drivers who need more reminders that automated directions are not 100% reliable. Given the somewhat saturated GPS device market, maybe more safety features should become a differentiator -- instead of novelty Knight Rider voices and navigators disguised as teddy bears.
