Battle for directions lost as men place trust in sat-navs

IT IS ONE of the traditional battlegrounds between men and women, and frequently the source of stand-offs on long journeys.

The age-old question as to which of the sexes boasts the better sense of direction has even been the subject of scientific inquiry. However, one thing is clear: a new survey suggests men use their satellite navigators to locate destinations significantly more often than women.

The poll of more than 4,000 sat-nav users by AA Motor Insurance found a quarter of men used their devices on a regular basis, compared to just 14 per cent of women.

The survey also showed some 5 per cent of users admitted to using their sat-navs every day, often just to track arrival times at familiar destinations. Conversely, four-fifths of users claimed only on rare occasions did they use the device, most notably when abroad or in an unfamiliar city.

Some 10 per cent admitted to having a near miss or a collision when attempting to programme the devices while driving. Director of AA Motor Insurance John Farrell warned that programming sat-navs while at the wheel could be just as distracting, if not more so, than using a mobile phone.

Nearly a third of users admitted to accidentally programming their devices to “lorry mode” or to “avoid motorways” settings, and thus to being brought on scenic routes to destinations.

“Whilst it’s a fantastic tool, it’s also important to remember that your sat-nav isn’t infallible,” Mr Farrell said. “If your instincts tell you you’re not on the most practical course, take out your trusty map and double-check.

“We have had stories of drivers making the most ridiculous mistakes because of blindly following the device’s directions,” he added.

One local authority in the UK was recently forced to erect special signs warning people not to trust sat-navs after motorists were repeatedly directed down streets which were too narrow for their vehicles.