Ditch the GPS. It’s ruining your brain Washington Post Op-ed

[Verlanka]

The GPS is no more a distraction than the speedo

Speedo are a huge distraction whenever I go to the pool.

I hate it when my car displays its speedo.

I feel the same way.

[Henry]

I'm pretty much old-school in this regard, as I absolutely refuse to use GPS; I'll stick to the traditional maps and atlases, thank you very much.

[NWI_Irish96]

I always know my planned route before I leave, but I find GPS to be incredibly helpful in getting me around unexpected traffic backups. 

[formulanone]

I always know my planned route before I leave, but I find GPS to be incredibly helpful in getting me around unexpected traffic backups. 

I like to know my route, will sketch it out on an index card, I don't like taking orders that I'm not interested in, and prefer to minimize distractions. But I do like to know traffic conditions, an alternate route, and time/mileage to an unfamiliar destination. Things change, and I like to be adaptable to that against the time constraints which are restrictive.

There are some final-mile destinations or shopping/eating places in unfamiliar places  that I don't plan for, and do not always have time to research.

[1995hoo]

I think that's a great opportunity instead to pan your route in advance.  With Google Maps and street view, it's possible to plot out every turn such that you don't need the GPS.

....

Possible, but in my opinion also a nuisance if I'm going somewhere unfamiliar because the sat-nav will adjust if I wind up going a different way from what I plotted out at home (could be any reason–traffic, a wreck on the highway, saw something interesting and decided to detour, whatever).

Essentially, what I think a lot people overlook is that it's meant to be an aid, not a crutch.

BTW, I will note that I'll sometimes type myself a short list of directions if I know I want to use an unfamiliar route that will cause the sat-nav to balk and I don't want to have to pull out a map while driving.

[kalvado]

At least we have no hardcore old-timers, who always pull over to ask for directions, right?

[PHLBOS]

At least we have no hardcore old-timers, who always pull over to ask for directions, right?

Actually, I've seen some pull over and ask for directions because either they misinterpreted their GPS or the info. on their GPS was just wrong.

[kphoger]

I'm pretty much old-school in this regard, as I absolutely refuse to use GPS; I'll stick to the traditional maps and atlases, thank you very much.

I'm not sure I've ever used a SatNav device, maybe once and I don't remember.  But I do occasionally pull out my cell phone and open Google Maps.

[webny99]

I'm pretty much old-school in this regard, as I absolutely refuse to use GPS; I'll stick to the traditional maps and atlases, thank you very much.

I'm not sure I've ever used a SatNav device, maybe once and I don't remember.  But I do occasionally pull out my cell phone and open Google Maps.

I do that as a passenger (and have thereby helped avoid a number of delays...) but not as a driver.
At least not any more, as I did once and have learned my lesson in that regard.

[kphoger]

I'm pretty much old-school in this regard, as I absolutely refuse to use GPS; I'll stick to the traditional maps and atlases, thank you very much.

I'm not sure I've ever used a SatNav device, maybe once and I don't remember.  But I do occasionally pull out my cell phone and open Google Maps.

I do that as a passenger (and have thereby helped avoid a number of delays...) but not as a driver.
At least not any more, as I did once and have learned my lesson in that regard.

Were you assuming I meant looking at Google Maps while driving?  I won't say I never ever do that, but most times I'm checking the map while stopped.