A survey by Direct Line revealed that satnavs are responsible for a mammoth 300,000 accidents every year in the UK alone. But where does the blame lay? A knee-jerk reaction would be to blame these magical voice boxes but that would be irrational, beyond any reasonable doubt careless drivers’ must shoulder some of the blame.
While the vast majority of these accidents will have been nothing more than fender benders it is still an alarming figure. These accidents were caused by a lapse in concentration by the driver; the lapse in concentration may have been as a result of the satnav although that would be difficult to prove.
When sat navs first entered the mainstream market around 10 years ago they were revolutionary and solved a real problem, paper maps and verbal instructions were outcasts overnight. Fast forward ten years and sat navs seem to be integrated into every imaginable electrical appliance apart from this invasion we have seen little technological advancements. This lack of innovation or shrewd marketing as resulted in the infestation of ‘celebrity’ voice-overs, while some are hilarious others are enough to make you slam into a wall, anything to make it stop.
Researchers have found six out of 10 motorists have screamed, bleated at or even hit out at their sat nav due to unclear directions, irritating voice-overs and out of date maps. Perhaps the rise in novelty voice-overs correlates directly with a rise in traffic accidents? I wouldn’t be surprised; I will leave that theory for the number crunchers.
To strengthen my argument below are the top 5 most annoying sat-nav voiceovers, could you honestly drive with these barking directions at you?
• Joe Pasquale
This helium filled comic is enough to send even the sanest drivers into road rage.
• Kerry Katona
The UK’s favourite gutter celebrity, who once said “I spend my life in the back of carsâ€, if only.
• G.W. Bush
He was certain he would find the WOMD, what chance has he got of finding “Llanfairpwllgwyngyll†in Anglesey.
• Britney Spears
“Hit me baby one more time†are six words you do not want to hear while driving.
• Prince Charles
The pompous voice of Prince Charles is an irritant to the ears and has the condescending tone of a school headmaster.
