Car accident claim news
27/01/2010

Is it safe to use a sat nav while driving?

While satellite navigation systems (sat navs) have greatly improved road travel through easier road negotiation, little is known about how they affect drivers' attention and whether they actually increase the number of car crashes and car accident claims.

University academics are carrying out research looking at the impact of the navigation technology on driving behaviour to see if using a sat nav has any adverse effect on the driver's concentration.

Comprised of researchers from Lancaster University and psychologists from Royal Holloway, the study will assess the types of information drivers receive and the responses they must make while using the systems.

One of the researchers, Dr Pragya Agarval of Lancaster University said, "There is little research on the impacts of sat navs on spatial attention and memory while undertaking a complex task such as driving."

While sat nav manufacturers have claimed that the technology assists driving behaviours, the researchers are interested in finding out accurate measurements for how driving performance and memory worsens while using one.

The research may also provoke further research into studies looking at correlations between car accident claims and drivers that use sat navs.