Satellite-navigation systems could be dangerous, scientists have claimed.
Fears that sat-nav devices may pose a risk to motorists follow research which showed that 78 per cent of crashes were caused by driver inattention.
Now psychologists at Lancaster University and Royal Holloway, University of London are to examine what they described as the "potentially dangerous effects of 'SAT NAV' in-car navigation systems."
The use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving is illegal in Britain and many other parts of the world, now researchers want to examine the impact of other sources of distraction including sat-nav systems which have become increasingly popular in recent years.
In the study, researchers will analyse how drivers handle the information they receive from sat-nav systems and how they respond to it.
Rather than actually driving a car, the volunteers will be set tasks by a computer which mimics the instructions sent by a sat-nav system.
"If we see any worsening of attention or memory performance while people are carrying out the navigation task, this might indicate that the navigation system imposes demands on the participant which could be dangerously distracting", said Polly Dalton, one of the researchers involved in the project.
"By the end of these experiments, we will be able to provide clear measurements of the ways in which the use of in-car navigation systems might interfere with attention and memory performance."
It is estimate that around 14 million drivers now use satellite navigation systems and in 2008 a poll of 2,000 motorists showed that one in five had made them hesitate on a busy road.
According to the same survey, carried out by Direct Line insurance, one driver in 50 said sat-nav had either caused or nearly caused an accident.
Sat-nav systems have also been held responsible for drivers suddenly swerving or turning.
However a spokesman for Tomtom, one of the market leaders in sat -nav devices, denied the technology was distracting drivers.
"We have had two pieces of independent research which show that satellite navigation aids driving behaviour.
"The evidence is that people feel more in control, concentrate on the business of driving and are less stressed."
Fears that sat-nav devices may pose a risk to motorists follow research which showed that 78 per cent of crashes were caused by driver inattention.
Now psychologists at Lancaster University and Royal Holloway, University of London are to examine what they described as the "potentially dangerous effects of 'SAT NAV' in-car navigation systems."
The use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving is illegal in Britain and many other parts of the world, now researchers want to examine the impact of other sources of distraction including sat-nav systems which have become increasingly popular in recent years.
In the study, researchers will analyse how drivers handle the information they receive from sat-nav systems and how they respond to it.
Rather than actually driving a car, the volunteers will be set tasks by a computer which mimics the instructions sent by a sat-nav system.
"If we see any worsening of attention or memory performance while people are carrying out the navigation task, this might indicate that the navigation system imposes demands on the participant which could be dangerously distracting", said Polly Dalton, one of the researchers involved in the project.
"By the end of these experiments, we will be able to provide clear measurements of the ways in which the use of in-car navigation systems might interfere with attention and memory performance."
It is estimate that around 14 million drivers now use satellite navigation systems and in 2008 a poll of 2,000 motorists showed that one in five had made them hesitate on a busy road.
According to the same survey, carried out by Direct Line insurance, one driver in 50 said sat-nav had either caused or nearly caused an accident.
Sat-nav systems have also been held responsible for drivers suddenly swerving or turning.
However a spokesman for Tomtom, one of the market leaders in sat -nav devices, denied the technology was distracting drivers.
"We have had two pieces of independent research which show that satellite navigation aids driving behaviour.
"The evidence is that people feel more in control, concentrate on the business of driving and are less stressed."
Had the loan of my Mates tom tom one XL , when i took my touring caravan to Longnor caravan site in the Deryshire Peaks .
nice 1 m8 made me pish 
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