TVNZ/One News/Closeup: Warning over the danger of GPS devices

An Australian researcher believes that using GPS devices in cars can be as dangerous as using mobile phones.

Professor Mark Stevenson says that, although the devices are intended to be safer than reading a paper map, they can still be highly distracting – he is about to undertake a large study on the subject.

An excerpt: (read in full here)

“”The cognitive processing required to use a GPS is very significant. And we know that cognitive distraction is one of the leading causes of crashes.”

“Planned research on driver distraction could see thousands of cars worldwide fitted with in-car cameras to see what distracts drivers most.

“While speeding and alcohol are accepted as leading causes of accidents on New Zealand roads, almost half of all injury crashes in are put down to inattention – through either fatigue or driver distraction.”