Do SatNavs Save Marriages?

[RobBrady]

A survey, reported by the Evening Standard, has claimed that one in ten motorists have split up with their partner after arguing in the car.

The research also shows that one in three couples admit to having more arguments in the car than anywhere else.

The study, commissioned by car maker SEAT, found that getting lost is the number one reason behind rows kicking off. It also revealed that a quarter of couples who took part in the survey say satnav systems have reduced the number of arguments when on the road.

Apparently, the average argument starts 22 minutes into a journey and over 50 per cent of couples admit to following the row sitting in stoney silence - presumably only interrupted by the occasional distraction of directions from the satnav.

Maybe satnav manufacturers are missing a trick, they could provide a value added service by ending each journey with "You have reached your destination, now kiss and make up!"
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Robert Brady

[Guivre46]

I can only agree. We used to argue at the end of the journey when route finding in unknown territory. That would leave us in silence for hours after we arrived. Ken and Simon are great marriage counsellors.

PS: my wife does not like me being given instructions by a woman's voice...
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Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
Go 530T - unsupported
Go550 Live [not renewed]
Kia In-dash Tomtom

[Andy_P]

Although it mentions having rows because of getting lost, it's a shame it doesn't go into how many rows are actually caused by the passenger's map reading skills (I'll diplomatically not mention any gender differences here!)


Funnily enough, we have found the car is an excellent place to get our 15 year old daughter to actually talk to us!
I think it's something to do with being in close proximity (and in private) but not having to make eye contact. Just occasionally she "opens up" and tells us all sorts of things we wouldn't get to hear otherwise!

[Border_Collie]

[Andy_P]

I never realised you were female, Lost_P

[Border_Collie]

She's been clipping some shrubs with the shears, which are laying in the garden, so I could well end up that way if she read what I'd said above.
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Formerly known as Lost_Property
And NO that's NOT me in the Avatar.

[dkitchin]

Mrs H is a pretty good navigator herself. First time we holidayed using Tomtom Mobile, she said what a load off her mind it was to leave the mapreading to someone else.

The following year she started following the planned route on a map and tutting at each turn.

Subsequent years, now on Tomtom Navigator 5, she would tut and face me with one of the great unanswerable questions of all time, "Why has she (Tomtom's Jane) taken us down here? That road (stabs map with finger) looks much quicker."

"What's she doing now?"

"I don't believe it"

Etc etc.

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Garmin 1490T

[Guivre46]

[AliOnHols]

I must say that my wife is a fantastic Map Reader and Navigator. However, since using a SatNav we no longer talk to each other because my head is buried in the PC and on SatNav forums.
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Garmin Nuvi 2599
Android with CamerAlert, OsmAnd+, Waze & TT Europe.
TomTom GO 730, GO 930, GO 940 & Rider2.
SatMap Active 10 & 20.

[Covenant]

I'll add to this by saying always double check the address/postcode !
When going on holiday to Cornwall with my partner, I asked her the postcode of the cottage we were staying at. She duly gave me a postcode she got from our booking confirmation letter.......

All seemed to be fine, and as the Tomtom counted down the miles, I was looking more and more forward to having a coffee after a long drive.
We had been to Cornwall before, and seemed to be heading in the right direction, but it wasn't a route I'd used before - didn't think anything of it really so we carried on regardless.

The Tomtom finally told me we had reached our destination - outside of the booking agents office in Plymouth (80-90 miles away from our acual destination). I was annoyed, and all thoughts of coffee disappeared !

After checking the letter myself, and having a few choice words to say, we set off again.

But I couldn't get out of Plymouth ! Every time I tried, the satnav would utter those words I still have nightmares about - "Now take the ferry"

Sorry for the long post, but ALWAYS check the details yourself

[W90BHP]

I completely agree - with a satnav I can concentrate on the driving and see an overview map of where we are against progress on the route, leaving Kirsty to chatter on and point out random things of interest along the way. Saves many arguments and completely de-pressurises a journey.

For those that haven't, read Why Men Don't Listen and Women Can't Read Maps*, which covers this very topic

Martin

Note* Other online booksellers are also available ;)
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LG G4: Android 6 : Viewranger : CoPilot : Waze
TomTom Go 730T : Traffic subscription long expired
Nokia E61 : Nokia GPS : TomTom Navigator 6 : Retired from duty
iPAQ 3970 : Navman Sleeve : CoPilot 4 : Somewhere in the loft

[spook51]

"one in three couples have more arguments in the car than anywhere else.."

If that means around 66 out of 100 couples bicker more when they're not in the car it's not surprising men are so car-obsessed - anything for a quiet life, eh gentlemen?

[Wazza_G]

I'm glad I'm single. No nagging, no barking from the left hand seat...

Just my Sat Nav & Ipod or Radio 2 for company.

I still keep an atlas in the car in case the Sat Nav fails, it hasn't yet.
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Be alert.. This country needs more lerts.

[dorsetwurzel]

So am I the only male who admits to not being able to read a road map? Last time I tried to follow a road map alongside the Satnav, I was only about 50 miles out...

However, I can read OS maps when I am about and about walking though!

[Guivre46]

It's not so much map reading as translating the map into a set of instructions for following a route. Pre-satnav, I would write a detailed list of manoeuvres, but I'd still have to read it and look for the road signs to confirm I was still on the planned route.
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Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
Go 530T - unsupported
Go550 Live [not renewed]
Kia In-dash Tomtom

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