Do You Pre-Plan Your Own Route? Or Do You Trust Your GPS?

If you are a Map Reader you will know that it is an acquired skill. To be able to read a map well and plan a detailed route takes time and practice. Some love it whilst others dislike it intensely. Like it or not, once you have mastered the art of Map reading it can be quite rewarding and satisfying to plan your required route to your chosen. destination.

There are drawbacks however to route planning by this method. As we are all too well aware, the route we have planned to take is not always available to be taken. Most maps do not have the details of Town or City one way systems shown. Also diversions due to roadworks,traffic accidents etc, which cause unforeseen and unexpected delays do not help. Of course, if you have a passenger with you, who just happens to be an ace map reader you won't have any problems.

If however you are driving solo when the unexpected detour or blockage occurs you can have problems. First of all you need to find somewhere to stop safely, not always as easy as it sounds. Then you need to be able to locate your position at that particular point in your journey, not always as simple as one might think, especially if you happen to be in a featureless part of the landscape. Then the diversion has to be planned and a new route worked out.

Compare this to using GPS Navigation.

At the start of the journey key in the destination and the type of roads you prefer to use. Select the quickest or shortest route and the clever little GPS works it all out for you. If you come across diversions,blocked routes etc, the GPS will re calculate your route for you on the fly.

Of course the GPS also has its drawbacks, it is only as good as the information that has been uploaded to it, so on occasions you could well find yourself directed to turn up a dirt track that is not even suitable for mountain goats never mind vehicles. All in all though the GPS these days are extremely reliable and a quick and easy way to find your way to your desired destination.

They are also much safer than trying to read a map as you drive along, as they give both visual and audible indications of distance to and direction of turn. No need to keep looking down to see where you are. A vast improvement over the old map reading system and carrying multiple A-Z maps around.

One small device now covers the entire country, with additional maps available for other countries too. No longer a novelty or a new gadget, they are fast becoming a standard and essential part of motoring equipment for the driver who makes trips to hitherto unknown destinations.

Expensive when they first came out, as most new electronic items are they have now come down to an affordable price. There are a wide range of GPS available, something to suit everyone.

Article by Roy Booth

Thank you for taking the time to read this article I hope you found it to be of interest. If you would like to see some of the GPS navigation systems we have available then please pay us a visit at http://bestmobileentertainment.com.

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