One school of thought would say that reading a map is a skill while another would suggest it’s an art form.
But what if you could remove the hassle of trying to navigate winding streets in busy cities without having the map spread out on your lap?
That’s where sat-navs come in as they provide a useful way to overcome a lack of map-reading skills and can make a journey a lot more stress-free.
Picking out features
Depending on what sat-nav you opt for, all have a number of variable features that can help you find the route that best suits your needs.
Whether you are interested in fuel consumption or avoiding motorways, or want clearly defined directions at junctions, there is a sat-nav to meet those needs.
For those that want a little fun in their journeys there are also devices with celebrity voices, although listening to Yoda, Darth Vader or Mr. T can get annoying after a while.
Accuracy
Most sat-navs on the market can provide a terrific degree of accuracy, enabling you to identify your precise location when travelling.
This is especially important in big cities where many roads can be found very close together and therefore extra care is required to avoid getting lost.
Accuracy is coupled with reliability within sat-navs as you’ll want to know you’re being pointed in the right direction, and not being expected to drive down impassable roads.
Keeping up-to-date
While maps do not run out of battery or crash, they can become outdated which is where a sat-nav holds a distinct advantage.
By updating the system regularly, any new roads or changes to one-way systems will be recorded and you’ll be firmly ‘in the know’ when it comes to driving these routes.
But with a map, there is always the chance that the newly installed roundabout or road layout will not be included, adding to the confusion.
If you’re on a long journey, or simply feel you’ve been navigating the same stretch of road for hours on end, this is the last thing you want.
While having a map handy is always recommended – just in case something does go wrong – a sat-nav can provide an accurate and reliable means of finding your destination.