Here's a quick tip, if you want to be a little greener. Buy a GPS, it'll make your trips shorter and more direct and if there's a service in your country that allows you to hook up to traffic jam notifications it'll mean less time in traffic pumping out caron monoxide!
I have to disagree, from all the reports GPS leads people astray and advises unsuitable routes. Every few weeks there is something on the news about the problems caused by GPS. I am still quite capable of reading a map! I plan unfamiliar journeys in advance using common sense and up to date info from the internet. The traffic info provided by my mobile phone provider (hands free of course!) is more than adequate to deal with traffic jams, etc.
I think it's good if you have no idea where you're going or are map illiterate, but otherwise, don't bother. I suppose I could give it points for spotting traffic jams, but so could listening to the traffic reports on the radio.
I think I was just trying to justify buying new gadgets!
My husband is a 'gadget' addict, he used to try to justify his purchases in all sorts of ways, but now he just says that he is keeping up to date with technology - it is hard to argue with that!
I don't know if GPS' deserve such a bad rap. Of course the technology is not perfect and some sub-divisions and the boonies are still uncharted, so the device is pretty much useless in such instances. I can use a map but they are anything but convenient...and internet directions have sent me far and wide on several occasions. I think with the prevalence of good GPS models available, the reports of problems are relatively few to the time and gas saved in travelling.
Quote:
Originally Posted by justontime
I have to disagree, from all the reports GPS leads people astray and advises unsuitable routes. Every few weeks there is something on the news about the problems caused by GPS. I am still quite capable of reading a map! I plan unfamiliar journeys in advance using common sense and up to date info from the internet. The traffic info provided by my mobile phone provider (hands free of course!) is more than adequate to deal with traffic jams, etc.
I don't know if GPS' deserve such a bad rap. Of course the technology is not perfect and some sub-divisions and the boonies are still uncharted, so the device is pretty much useless in such instances. I can use a map but they are anything but convenient...and internet directions have sent me far and wide on several occasions. I think with the prevalence of good GPS models available, the reports of problems are relatively few to the time and gas saved in travelling.
I am writing from a UK perspective. We have a lot of problems with huge lorries getting stuck in narrow roads because of using GPS. The organisation that manages our rail network also blame a big increase in damage to railway bridges due to lorries using GPS getting stuck under low bridges. There are reports of cars getting into trouble too but the big lorries have most problems. I guess some places are better suited to sat nav than others.
I am writing from a UK perspective. We have a lot of problems with huge lorries getting stuck in narrow roads because of using GPS. The organisation that manages our rail network also blame a big increase in damage to railway bridges due to lorries using GPS getting stuck under low bridges. There are reports of cars getting into trouble too but the big lorries have most problems. I guess some places are better suited to sat nav than others.
, I can see where you are coming from. The device cannot be used as a substitute for common sense. A driver must realise that a road is too narrow or that the truck doesn't have sufficient clearance under a particular bridge. Surely if the thingamajig landed him in a dead end, he wouldn't just sit there thinking he had reached his destination.
I think the GPS would help save money on gas and avoid going around when you are not sure of where you are going. But there have to be other ways of saving more gas!
My brother in law very proudly showed me his new GPs system, but unfortunately when he typed in my location it drive him straight into a forest! It seems they don't cope with unmade roads terribly well & go for the most direct route!!
Want to make your car greener...buy a GPS
, I can see where you are coming from. The device cannot be used as a substitute for common sense. A driver must realise that a road is too narrow or that the truck doesn't have sufficient clearance under a particular bridge. Surely if the thingamajig landed him in a dead end, he wouldn't just sit there thinking he had reached his destination.
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