Sat Navs and smartphone navigation apps have become an everyday part of driving for millions of UK motorists, with new research from eBay finding that 69% of drivers have experienced a navigational mishap when travelling without digital guidance.
Almost half of motorists surveyed, 45%, said they had become lost or taken a wrong turn when driving without a Sat Nav or navigation app. Nearly a third, 31%, said the experience had left them feeling stressed, while 29% travelled further than necessary and 25% arrived late at their destination.
Traditional navigation skills appear to be fading too. One in five motorists, 20%, admitted they do not feel confident reading a conventional road map or atlas when travelling somewhere unfamiliar.
Navigation becomes an everyday driving tool
The research suggests digital navigation is no longer reserved for journeys to unfamiliar destinations.
More than one in five drivers, 21%, said they use a Sat Nav or navigation app on every or most journeys, even when they already know the route.
Live information appears to be one of the reasons motorists continue using navigation technology on familiar roads. Some 36% said live traffic information was among the features they found most useful, while 34% valued estimated arrival times and 27% highlighted automatic route recalculation.
That means navigation systems are increasingly being used to answer not just where am I going?, but also what is the quickest way to get there right now?
Smartphones lead the way
Smartphones have also changed the way drivers access navigation.
Almost half of motorists, 46%, said their most commonly used navigation method was an app displayed directly on their smartphone or through phone mirroring technology.
By comparison, 29% most often use their vehicle’s built-in navigation system, while just 5% rely primarily on a physical road atlas.
The figures underline the growing influence of smartphone integration systems such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which allow drivers to access navigation apps through compatible in-car displays.
Abir Tewari, UK Director of Commercial Operations, Parts & Accessories at eBay, said: “Sat Nav technology has transformed the way motorists get around. Drivers are no longer only using it when they do not know the way, but as an everyday tool to help with everything from traffic status to journey times.
“With eBay’s My Garage and eBay Assured Fit, drivers can quickly find the right products for their vehicle and navigation needs, making every journey that little bit smoother.”
Summer road trips put navigation in focus
The findings arrive as motorists prepare for some of the final road trips of the summer, when unfamiliar destinations, congestion and diversions can make accurate navigation particularly useful.
eBay offers a range of portable Sat Navs, phone mounts and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto upgrades for motorists looking to add or improve navigation technology in their vehicles.
Motoring Echo Verdict
The humble road atlas has not disappeared completely, but digital navigation has clearly moved well beyond simply helping drivers who are lost. Live traffic, accurate arrival times and automatic rerouting mean many motorists now switch on navigation even for roads they know well.
With 69% admitting to some form of navigational mishap when travelling without digital assistance, Sat Nav has become less of an occasional accessory and more of an everyday driving companion.
