Should Sat Navs have screens?

[DaveP]

I had an interesting experience the other day.
In the morning I made several deliveries in Walsall, guided by a passenger who came along so that his local knowledge could make up some time lost by a late start. He used an A2Z to help his route planning. Last minute signals and manouvreing were the order of the day, he just couldnt give me enough warning. Also ended up in the wrong lane several times - he couldnt stop thinking like a car driver! I didnt really learn anything about my route because I was continually on the edge of my seat waiting for the word!
Later I went out on my own and tried using the A2Z. Didnt take me long to get disoriented, ended up driving down roads I shouldnt have
Plugged in the satnav and let it sort out my return journey. Soooo much easier...

It doesnt do a bad job of route finding at any time, but its absolutely brilliant in the last mile or so of a journey, when it comes down to reading street names.

[2Tubs]

I had an interesting experience the other day.
In the morning I made several deliveries in Walsall, guided by a passenger who came along so that his local knowledge could make up some time lost by a late start. He used an A2Z to help his route planning. Last minute signals and manouvreing were the order of the day, he just couldnt give me enough warning. Also ended up in the wrong lane several times - he couldnt stop thinking like a car driver! I didnt really learn anything about my route because I was continually on the edge of my seat waiting for the word!
Later I went out on my own and tried using the A2Z. Didnt take me long to get disoriented, ended up driving down roads I shouldnt have
Plugged in the satnav and let it sort out my return journey. Soooo much easier...

It doesnt do a bad job of route finding at any time, but its absolutely brilliant in the last mile or so of a journey, when it comes down to reading street names.

Indeed, my satnav does a fine job.

And the screen is turned off.

You can't be far from me. I live in Great Barr.

Gazza

[mark a.]

Some reasons why I would be opposed to any ban of sat-nav screens or locks to prevent inputs while driving:

- If I have a passenger they can look at the screen for me and tell me anything important
- They can add in any destinations, waypoints, traffic-news checks using the remote control
- Any voice prompts get really annoying when you're trying to talk to someone in the car (or indeed if they are trying to tell me directions)

Even if I'm on my own I tend turn the voice prompts off. This is because I like to check the map before I go then use the screen as a reminder if I need it, not being constantly bothered by a man telling me stuff I already know.

I also prefer a screen rather than voice because I can look at the directions whenever I need it and whenever it is safe (e.g. no traffic, or if you are stuck in a queue). If it's busy with lots of things going on I don't want to be distracted by the voice - my brain still tries to process the information even if I don't want or need it. It's just information overload.

So if anything I'd ban voices and just keep the screens