Thursday 10 April 2008

Drawbacks of SatNav

Michael Bywater in the Independent's Extra magazine yesterday chronicles the dire effects of SatNav. Along with the gross examples of cars ending up in fords, or of posh Chelsea fans who don't know north from south finding themselves in Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire, there are more subtle effects.

The shortest line between two points is not always the speediest. A motorway is quicker than an A-road (other things being equal), and a dual carriageway with limited access is quicker than a two-lane highway through a residential area. The increase in traffic along the narrow A4230 through Cadoxton may be down to SatNav diverting drivers from the purpose-built A465.

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