Safest way to use gps on the road?

I have had a Road Angel 7000 unit for six months and have only just realised
the value of setting the screen to power down after a minute or three when
on the car power supply.

With a blank screen navigation directions are still given verbally and the
same applies to speed camera alerts. With the best will in the world it is
all too tempting to look at the inviting screen from time to time when it is
powered on. This is OK when stopped at the roadside but does it make sense
when pressing on on the open road? I think not. So I removed the temptation
by having the screen to power down and keep my concentration on what is
happening outside the vehicle.

A tap on the screen brings it instantly back to life should any changes need
to be made. Obviously this should only be done when stopped or let a
passenger do what is required.

Richard

There is absolutely nothing wrong with glancing at the TomTom to clarify
(for instance) which exit it's telling you to take at a roundabout. I do
emphasize "glance" though and not taking your eyes off the road for more
than a couple of seconds.

To put some perspective on this, it should be akin to, and certainly no
longer than you would glance at any of the warning lights or other
instruments such as the fuel guage, temp. guage, rev counter or whatever.
Anyone who can't safely look at the vehicle instruments shouldn't be driving
anyway and there's no reason why a navigational aid should be any different.

Fred

I have my Garmin 2610 mounted on my motorcycle without any audio and
it gives me a visual countdown of when the next instruction is going
to be given so that I know when I should take a look.
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So what part of the instruction " take the third exit" do you not
understand?

It is different because it shows interesting but unnecessary extra
information that can be a distraction. Warning lights are an entirely
different kettle of fish. They only come on when your attention is needed
and providing one does not suffer from tunnel vision they will appear in
one's peripheral vision. There is no need to scan for them. Even the speedo
only needs the briefest of occasional glances because if you have a
reasonable amount of driving experience you will "know" within a very few
MPH how fast you are going.

Richard.

On Mon, 16 Jul 2007 14:35:46 +0100, "Hawkins"


I trust you'll be writing to your MP to have a change in the law so
that all GPS devices have their screens blanked out.
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-- Nick ICQ: 9235201 EMAIL & MSN: nickmooney@spamcop.net
-- LOTR#4 SKOGA#8 DS#7 BOTAFOT#159 BOTM#2 FBOTY#06 PM#11
-- GSF600n www.bgn.me.uk - Drive until you lose the road