A lot is being said about the road toll and without wishing to criticise any efforts to make things better, Down The Mall reckons authorities should investigate one possible mysterious cause.
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Siri. Or her similar annoying chums.
Many of us were given satellite navigation devices or have them already installed in their vehicles, but hands up anyone who hasn’t wanted to commit personal violence on it?
Thought so.
“In 300 metres take the next exit right. At 100 metres … Take the RIGHT exit! NOW! … (with a clear sense of exasperation) Recalibrating.”
Or have been ordered to go down what is clearly a rocky goat track which your Sat Nav insists is the best way to get to Wangaratta?
In DTM’s experience, the bodiless voice has tried to order a sharp left into a county lane clearly marked No Through Road to get to Mansfield – even though we were already on the main highway to Mansfield.
A friend was the first to arrive at a group retreat in Hepburn Springs.
All the others followed their Sat Nav orders and ended up in Malmsbury.
“I used a map,” she replied.
Well, that’ll never catch on.
Another was on his way from Melbourne to Bendigo (and really, do you need Sat Nav to drive up the Calder Freeway?) when Siri ordered him to leave the freeway and go through Taradale.
Across a paddock.
The world is full of stories about people driving into rivers, lakes or the sea because Siri told them to.
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People have an odd faith in digital devices.
According to a recent British study, people waste 29 hours a year because of Sat Nav stuff ups.
Heh, 47 per cent of drivers reporting having “verbal disagreements” with their Sat Nav. In addition, 31 per cent said they had shouted at it in rage.
Yet, 52 per cent admitted they “switched off” their brain and just followed the instructions once they were on the road.
In Britain now, part of a new driver’s driving test is showing you know how to use the device sensibly.