New Text Messaging Sat Nav Criticised As Dangerous

Friday, 9. October 2009

Clarion, manufacturers of portable satellite navigation systems, have been highly criticised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and safety organisation Brake over their new model, the MAP970 which displays text messages on the screen. The criticisms follow a report by the RAC that 39% of UK motorists have been seriously distracted by in car entertainment, sat navs and mobile phones Brake point out that reading text messages whilst driving is extremely dangerous. RoSPA say that drivers need to concentrate on driving which means they shouldn’t do other things at the same time. Clarion pointed out that the device was not meant to be read whilst moving but the added, and get this, the device displays a warning which says: ‘Do not try to operate, enter data into or obtain data from this product while driving because such presents a life hazard and the lack of proper attention may cause death, injury or material damage.’ By the time you’ve read that you’ve probably managed to involve yourself in a 10 car pile up! How daft is that? By Graham Hill