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One of the most utile driving aids ever introduced are perhaps Satellite navigation systems. With their improved functions like voice commands and bluetooth technology, these systems are making traveling fun and easy. It is necessary to choose and use them wisely, to prevent ending up over a cliff on a rainy day!

Choosing a Sat Nav
Do you want an integrated sat nav with multimedia and voice recognition technology? Or a basic model just enough to meet your needs? Choosing a GPS navigation system entirely depends on how frequently you use it and what functions you expect it to do.

For Occasional use: If you plan to use your GPS device only on rare occasions such as the yearly holiday, it is better to opt for a sat nav with basic features, but with good points-of-interest.

For Daily use: If you depend on a satellite navigation system regularly to drive through the maze of streets across cities and towns, it is better to opt for one that comes with real time traffic alerts.

Also, if you travel a lot worldwide or nationwide, opt for a compact and easy to carry GPS gadget with integrated multimedia features.

Using a Sat Nav
Once you have crossed the initial hurdle of choosing a good navigation device, there lies the huge responsibility of using it in a proper way. Evidently, the extent of trust you place in your device can reduce sat nav blunders, a much prevalent issue in the recent times. Have a quick glance at the points given below to keep yourself safe.

Get to Know your sat nav: Be thorough with all the features and the mode of operation of your satellite navigation device. You must know how to handle it efficiently in any unexpected situation.

Never follow a Sat Nav System blindly: It is always advisable to keep an eye on road signs rather than following your GPS system blindly. Remember, Sat Nav is just a gadget to support you during your journey.

Give importance to what you see: If you see that the road before you leads to a cliff or a narrow rough path, never dare to trust your GPS gadget, even if it asks you to do so.

Keep it up to date: Theres no use to blam your sat nav system for landing you in trouble if its not up to date.

Concentrate on the roads: Never get distracted by the surroundings. It is advisable to not use the multimedia features of your sat nav much when you travel through unknown territories.

Above all, a Satellite Navigation system is just a man-made device, meant to give you a hand during your journeys.

If you need turn-by-turn directions to the nearest place with WiFi, any nüvi will do the trick. However, if you want to be able to use the WiFi when you arrive, you’ll want to check out the nüvi 295W. This new navigator was recently reviewed by GPS Tracklog and they had some good things to say. It’s the “first nüvi to include WiFi, giving you Internet and email access on the go. The nüvi 295W is a good choice for someone who would like email on the go, but isn’t ready to spring for a smartphone data plan.”

Search Engine Land reports that Rosenberg, a Los Angeles California native, is suing Google because Google Maps issued directions that told her to walk down a rural highway. She started walking down the highway–which had no sidewalk or pedestrian paths–and was struck by a car. She is suing Google for her medical expenses ($100,000), as well as punitive damages. She is also suing the driver who struck her, Patrick Harwood of Park City, Utah.

On January 19, 2010, Rosenberg was apparently trying to get from 96 Daly Street, Park City, Utah, to 1710 Prospector Avenue, Park City, Utah. She looked up the walking directions using Google Maps on her Blackberry. Google Maps suggested a route that included a half-mile walk down “Deer Valley Drive,” which is also known as “Utah State Route 224.”

There’s not much more to say–she started walking down the middle of a highway, and a car hit her. Who wouldn’t have seen that one coming?

According to Rosenberg’s complaint filing:

“As a direct and proximate cause of Defendant Google’s careless, reckless and negligent providing of unsafe directions, Plaintiff Lauren Rosenberg was led onto a dangerous highway, and was thereby stricken by a motor vehicle, causing her to suffer sever permanent physical, emotional, and mental injuries, including pain and suffering.”

Google actually does offer up a warning about its walking directions–if you view Google Maps on a computer, it gives you the following message: “Walking directions are in beta. Use caution–This route may be missing sidewalks or pedestrian paths.”
This warning does not show up in PDA’s and cell phones.