Nick writes for Mr Spanners Automotive located in Sumner, Queensland. Mr Spanners do all regular log book servicing, safety certificates, vehicle inspections and more.

Are we seeing a similar phenomenon with the modern GPS? Some people treat their Satellite Navigation systems as an ultimate authority and follow the directions without question, even when it would seem obvious that they are going the wrong way, sometimes not even on the road.

Here’s 8 mind boggling driving blunders that have been blamed on GPS;

Up a Hiking Trail

Robert Ziegler and his van had to be airlifted off of a Swiss mountain after he followed his GPS’s directions to drive onto a hiking path and up a mountain. Ziegler said he kept hoping that around the next bend he would find the road again but it never came. Eventually he was instructed to turn around but, by then, it was too late.

Into the Mud

Three young Japanese tourists got stuck in the mud when they drove off the road and into the ocean in Moreton Bay, near Brisbane.

One of the tourists said “it told us we could drive down there”. “It kept saying it would navigate us to a road. We got stuck . . . there’s lots of mud.”

Into a River

I guess since 70% of the earth’s surface is water we shouldn’t be surprised there are so many examples of people driving their cars into rivers, lakes and the sea… or not.

In this instance, three women following their GPS drove their rented four wheel drive down the boat ramp and into the river in Mercer Slough Nature Park.

Perhaps we can forgive them a little as they were not familiar with the area and it was dark, close the midnight.

Eric Keenan from the local fire department sums it up… “I don’t know why they wouldn’t question driving into a puddle that doesn’t seem to end.”

Into Oncoming Traffic

There have been numerous reports of people turning into oncoming traffic at the request of their GPSs. In this case, a man from NSW was pulled over for driving the wrong way on the Hume highway in Victoria, Australia.

The man told police that he had simply followed his GPS’s instructions and that he wasn’t worried by the oncoming traffic because he thought he was on a dual carriageway.

On a 2500 km Detour

Locals and tourists at Gibraltar Point in the UK saw an odd sight when a huge truck squeezed its way down the narrow road towards the sea. The Serbian driver had left Turkey bound for Gibraltar in the South of Spain but his GPS had other ideas, honing in on the similarly named location in the UK.

The truck driver may not have been familiar with the route but you would think he might have noticed something was off with the weather or the fact he had to drive onto a ferry to cross the English Channel!

Into the Harbour

This guy was obviously very confused, or stupid or both. Apparently he’d just driven off the Ferry in a small Alaskan town, done a quick lap of the shops then headed back past the ferry to wherever he was going when his all-knowing GPS told him to turn right into the harbour… so he did.

The man and his two pet dogs made it out thanks to quick thinking onlookers but, sadly, his cat did not.

Onto the Railway Line

There have been several reports of people following GPS directions onto the train tracks, getting stuck and then having their car struck (and destroyed) by the next train.

Paula Celly, a 20 yo student from the UK, narrowly escaped death when she drove her car onto a train line without realising it. She was in a country area and thought the two gates just looked like ‘ordinary farm gates.’ She opened the first one, drove onto the tracks, then went to open the other gate and that’s when she noticed the train lines. She apparently considered getting back in the car and driving off quickly but luckily she didn’t because the quickly approaching train smashed into her vehicle shortly after.

Celly had this nugget of wisdom for would be GPS users… “I’ll never use a sat nav again. You rely on them and if it all goes wrong, you’re horribly stuck. People should be more careful with them – you never know where they might lead you.”

Off a Cliff (nearly)

Our final story for this article is that of Robert Jones who found himself teetering on the edge of a 100 foot cliff, saved from falling only by a fence, after following his SatNav’s directions.

Jones said “It kept insisting the path was a road, even as it was getting narrower and steeper, so I just trusted it.”

You would think a professional driver might have more driving care but I guess that’s the power of the all authoritative GPS.

Nick writes for Car Clinic, the most trusted mechanic in Nundah, Brisbane. Look them up for your next Log Book Service, General Service or LPG Conversion.

Driving alone is something more and more people need to do. Especially when you get your very first car, you are probably going to be going places by yourself and this can be a bit intimidating. However, we have good news for you; cars these days make it feel as though you are never truly alone because they are able to guide you and keep you safe better than ever before.

Today we are going to talk to you about a few things that we think you are really going to love about cars these days. Even if driving by yourself is a fear of yours, you are quickly going to feel comfortable and have no problem at all driving on your own. A lot of these features are going to completely blow your mind and make you wonder just how people went without them for so long. We are very excited to see what’s going to happen next because every time something new comes out, we are in complete awe by the wonderful advancements. Technology is great!

Reverse like a Pro

Most drivers have the most trouble when it comes to parallel parking and reversing. The good news for you is that a lot of cars these days are actually capable of assisting you in these tasks; if not able to completely do them for you. We must admit that we are a bit jealous because passing our driving tests would have been much easier if our car would have been able to help us along the way. Could you imagine how funny it would have been to simply hit a button back then and your car would do all the work for you? While we can’t exactly go back in time and allow our younger selves to have these neat features, we are able to enjoy them today. Even if you are comfortable parking on your own, there’s something really interesting about allowing your car to park for you.

It’s amazing how cars these days track the area surrounding your car so you never have to worry about possible dangers. Plus, many cars have cameras installed on the back so you never have to question whether or not it’s safe to begin reversing. If you have small children or pets, this is something you may want to consider on your next car.

See the Road No Matter How Bad the Weather May Be

If you have ever driven during a major rain or snow storm then you can probably relate to how it feels to not be sure where you are going. These days there are all sorts of sensors on cars so that you never have to wonder if you are on the right track. For one, your car will let you know if you are falling asleep by tracking your eyes as you are on the road. The same goes for lanes. If you are ever to leave your lane, you will be notified.

Another neat feature is that your windshield can actually point things out for you such as the nearest stop sign or speed limit so you never have to question whether or not you are going the right speed or when you may need to slow down. With landmarks being pointed out to you, you’ll never have to wonder if you are safe or not. This is a fantastic thing for people who drive a lot alone and need a bit of guidance along the way.

View Your GPS and Other Important Information Right on Your Windshield

As you can probably already gather, windshields aren’t what they used to be; they are so much more. They are now capable of keeping you safe and getting you to your destination quicker than ever. Why have a GPS system in your car when you can have it as a part of your windshield and you can see through it? You can also track your mileage, gas tank and so much more there. Even if you want to do something such as watch a music video or update your Facebook status, all of this can be done directly on your windshield; making life easier than ever and saving space in your car.

Be Alerted of Possible Dangers and Feel Comfortable on the Road No Matter Where You’re Headed

Driving alone can be pretty intimidating but these days, you don’t have anything to worry about it. You can easily get from Point A to Point B without any fear of becoming lost or being able to see your way. With so much help along the way, you are going to be able to accomplish all the things you want without any added pressure or stress so you can keep your mind on the task at hand.

Clint has been promoting the use of new gadgets like gps etc in cars so that you can make driving a more comfortable experience. He recommends going to CMM mechanics to fix any car related problems.

With the help of these GPS system, you don’t have to go through the hassles of memorizing the street names, roads, and directions etc. GPS is a tracking device, which helps the user to reach their desired destinations with the help of International positioning system. GPS relies on information received from satellites, and it helps in tracking your car from anywhere on the earth.

Utility of GPS

This device is very easy to use, and you don’t have to be an expert to operate the it. All you have to do is to follow the set of instructions that is mentioned on the manual. There are verbal or Audio GPS, which instructs the drivers to follow a particular lane or road, without having to refer to a map. For others who prefer not to be disturbed while driving, a non verbal GPS is a better option.

A good GPS system will serve all your travel purposes. If you reside in one of the busiest and crowded cities of the world, then you may want to purchase a latest version of GPS system. It will help you in choosing the not so crowded roads or streets, thus helping you to reach your destination without any confusion or delays.

This device is no doubt one of the safest methods of navigating any unknown roads as it works on electronic mode. Moreover, the driver can concentrate on the road, without any fear of getting lost in a new place. Nor will you have to follow the big signboards while driving. All you have to do is feed in the address you want to reach, and choose the shortest route possible. You also save on fuel.

Factors to be considered for Purchasing a GPS

GPS is a unique device, which is much preferred by foreign travelers who intend to explore a new place all by their own. There are many car manufacturers who install devices like INVS that provides real-time traffic data, as it is integrated with a GPS device. You will need to consider the cost of the device, model compatibility, and other such factors prior to the purchase of a good GPS system.

Pricing

An advanced device is more expensive when compared to normal ones. The price of the GPS also depends upon the options you choose. There are many websites where you can not only find some of the newly introduced GPS devices, but can read their reviews as well. Now, the GPS has become a must have accessory for all vehicles.

Authors Bio: If you like this article on Global Positioning System, then you will enjoy reading more posts from Nady. He is an enthusiastic writer who writes a lot on car service topics.

If you’re one of the few people that still uses their mind to figure out how to get home, isn’t it about time you caught up with modern technology? Aside from the significant possibility of pedestrian injury, installing a GPS system in your car means that you could theoretically drive home with your eyes closed. And if you consider yourself more safety conscious than that you can still use your fancy new car gadget to help you find a short cut when your regular driving route is full of traffic. Before you get over excited however, and run out and buy one of these novel inventions, there are a few key important things to consider when purchasing one. I will now outline just what those important considerations are.

Screen

Of course, one of the most important things to consider when choosing a GPS system is the actual screen.

• When it comes to the size, don’t head out and blindly purchase the largest one that you can afford. GPS systems with large screens are not only much less portable, many of them are too large to safely be attached to a car windshield. You should therefore aim for the smallest screen that both your eyes and your fingers will allow.

• Many GPS systems include anti glare screens which are pretty much essential on sunny days. Some cheaper GPS systems frequently don’t include such screens and should therefore be avoided.

Maps

When it comes to maps, there are two things that you need to look for.

• First, you will obviously want a GPS system that includes maps of the areas that you frequently drive through. If you purchase a GPS system online, don’t automatically assume that maps of your area are included.
• Secondly, some GPS manufacturers sell add on maps. If you frequently take your car with you when you go on holiday, you don’t want to purchase a GPS system without this useful feature.

Mounting

Another important factor to consider when purchasing a GPS system is how it will actually be attached to your car.

• If you want a GPS system that attaches to your windshield, make sure you choose one with a rigid arm. Many GPS systems employ gooseneck arms which lead to the GPS system bouncing at high speeds. As you can imagine, this makes it a lot more difficult to read.
• Another important thing to note about windshield GPS systems is that not all states allow them. It doesn’t matter how small the screen is, if you live in such a state, you will have to stick to the dashboard variety.

Spoken Street Names

In the past, GPS systems never included spoken street names but this has been changing recently and now more and more sound like actual human beings. If you would prefer not to hear things such as “turn left in 1.3 miles”, make sure that you purchase a GPS system capable of pronouncing street names. Not only is the alternative rather irritating, it can also make it very easy to make a wrong turn when there are multiple turns in close succession.

Street Name Prediction

Regardless of how intuitive the touch screen on a GPS system is, typing a full street name while driving is never going to be exactly convenient. Many GPS system manufacturers attempt to get around this problem through predictive entry. A GPS system with predictive entry generally only requires you to type in the first three letters of a street name before it predicts what you are trying to type. Predictive entry is not only convenient, it is also a great safety feature as you end up spending less time looking at the screen.

Real Time Traffic Updates

One feature that can greatly increase the usefulness of a GPS device is real time traffic updates. Such GPS systems can not only tell you which way to go but also recommend whatever route has the least traffic. If this feature appeals to you, it’s important to be aware that some GPS manufacturers expect you to pay a subscription fee to receive the traffic updates. You are better off choosing one of the many manufacturers that provide the updates for free by including onscreen advertisements instead.

Cool Extra Features

Finally, to appeal to those that love gadgetry, many GPS systems now come complete with an interesting selection of additional features.

• Many allow not only MP3 playback, but also video playback. You simply slot in an SD card with your files and press the play button.
• Bluetooth connectivity is also a very popular feature in GPS systems. You can then use the GPS systems screen, speaker and internal microphone to make and receive calls as you drive.

This guest post was written by Chris. He likes to write about car accessories, GPS and driving. He drives a used Ford and can’t go anywhere without a GPS system.