89% of UK drivers ignore their sat-nav instructions
Key Points
- 89% of UK drivers sometimes ignore their sat-nav instructions, RAC research finds.
- 84% of those who ignored directions arrived faster than their device predicted.
- Just 35% of drivers have a high degree of trust in their sat-nav.
- 11% were sent the wrong way down a one-way street; 19% hit a hard-to-reverse dead end.
- Free phone apps lead on 53%, ahead of built-in systems on 35%.
Nearly nine in 10 UK drivers (89%) sometimes ignore their sat-nav instructions, and 84% of those who do reach their destination faster than the device predicted, according to research from the RAC.
The survey of 1,601 UK drivers found that 91% use a sat-nav of some kind, with 8% relying on one for every journey, 30% for most trips and 53% for occasional trips.
Trust in the technology runs well behind adoption, with just 35% of drivers reporting a high degree of trust in their device. Only 12% follow the instructions without question.
Drivers reported a range of faults. More than half (52%) said their device does not always detect upcoming traffic jams, and 44% said it sent them down small, narrow roads.
A further 19% almost got stuck after their sat-nav directed them down a dead end that was hard to reverse out of. One in 10 (11%) said their device sent them the wrong way down a one-way street.
Free phone apps such as Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps are the most common choice, used by 53% of drivers. Another 35% use a system built into the car, and 9% use a separate unit attached to the dashboard or windscreen, an option that proves most popular among drivers aged 65 and over.
“Sat-navs are used by the majority of drivers, and can be a useful tool to help us get from A to B. But what this data shows is that people shouldn’t blindly follow the directions but continue to pay close attention to road signage and tap into any local knowledge they have of the area,” said Harriet Hernando, RAC Breakdown spokesperson.
“Worryingly, one-in-10 said their sat-navs sent them down a one-way road the wrong way, risking a head-on collision. With several fatalities attributed to sat-navs, it’s important to pay attention to road signage and ensure devices are fully updated with the latest changes to the road network,” she added.
Google and Apple agreed to amend their audio prompts in November 2024 after a double fatal crash that appeared to follow incorrect sat-nav directions.
A driver travelled the wrong way along the A5 near Milton Keynes after following audio directions from her device, causing a head-on collision that killed both drivers.
