Survey - women equal to men with the ability to read a map.

[GJF]

Yes, sorry folks, yet another survey.

This NEWS REPORT based on a survey states, that not only are women equal to men on map reading, but when tested on their map-reading skills, only one per cent of drivers would pass the Cub Scout Map Reader badge, which is aimed at six to 17 year olds.

Are Sat Nav's making us lazy?

Men always used to be superior at map reading, what has happened?
_________________
TomTom Go 60
Garmin Nüvi 660, Firmware v4.90
Drive-Smart GPS with Loader v1.4.16
HTC Advantage X7500 MS 6.1 Tchart Speed Sentry
Satmap Active 10, Software v1.16
Fuzion 32 HUD Bluetooth GPS receiver

[mikealder]

If you cannot read a paper map and still employ a compass effectively you should not go out in the hills even if you have a GPS , they can let you down or break often at the worst time quite possibly as conditions are deteriorating.

Being able to use a map correctly is essential, my wife cannot use one or read it correctly, but both my 10 year old daughter and 7 year old son can, they prefer to use the GPS as it is much easier, but map reading skills are an essential part of fell walking.

As for road maps, I don't think a Scout badge would be applicable, this is for Topo style usage - Mike

[Border_Collie]

My wife is fine using a paper map if we are travelling S to N but N to S she has to hold the map upside down. So there's one woman who can't do it.

But I've had no problems with Jane (TT) or Phillippa (iGO) who don't moan so much when I go wrong.

[mostdom]

Scientifically, 3 out of 5 women lack the spatial awearness geneology thant most men have, which is why women tend to rotate a map to get their barring where most men can do this in their head.

Whilst some women are very good at reading maps and many are ok, I just don't believe this report!
_________________
Dom

HERE LIES PND May it rest in peace.
Navigon 7310/iPhone Navigon&Copilot

[wigfield]

i dont care what anyone thinks of me but i cant read a map,but i can read signs and i can ask for directions

[DennisN]

[Privateer]

I taught Bo Peep how to read a map and use a compass. She's excellent at reading and interpreting Ordnance Survey Landranger Maps (1:50,000).

Now she’s better at reading maps than I am!

Regards,
_________________
Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D

[Oldboy]

[DennisN]

[mostdom]

[GPS_fan]

If I'm planning a journey along a route I'm not familiar with, I'll always look at a map before turning on any GPS.

It may be a little over the top for some people, but:

1) it gives you a rough idea where you're going, so you know if your GPS goes AWOL
2) it helps you to plan breaks if you're planning a longer journey
3) it gives you a rough idea of what alternative routes may be available if there's traffic, town centres or whatever
4) it makes it easier to find the right page if you need to use a map along the route
5) you can see where all the pubs are marked on the map


Note: item 2 above helps reduce the risk of Dennis' "emergency breaking situation"
_________________
Andy
PocketGPSWorld.com supports Help for Heroes - Read here

[Skippy]

Anyone can do anything if they apply themselves to it and practice a bit. The problem is that map reading is a fairly boring and thankless task (you just get abuse when you get it wrong) so people can't be bothered getting good at doing it.

Anyway, that's why we have Sat Nav, innit!
_________________
Gone fishing!

[GJF]

I still believe that the day's of having a Sat Nav and forgetting map reading isn't upon us yet.

If i am in London or any other City/town the Sat Nav can be relied on without maps, but longer journeys - i can't trust it.

My Sat Nav is OK if i am on a direct route via motorways or A roads, but within the country side still sends me on obscure routes with often more rather than less mileage.

This brings us back to map reading, I know that todays "user friendly" maps can be read by most people, feet to the inch rather than miles and lots of pretty colours makes them a lot easier to read, i believe this is the main reason that women now find it easier to read maps.

A great amount of map reading is whether to use that nice wide road or that one that goes past the coast, but how many can actually read the detail as supplied by Ordnance Survey when in the country, including heights above sea level and getting the correct compass bearing.

I am not trying to be sexist to women, but it has been proven that mens and womens brains work a different way, in the case of map reading, men have an advantage in orientation, but that doesn't make one better than the other and we are still both equal in our different ways.

When ever i give my wife an AA type map book she understands it easily, but give her the Ordnance Survey sheet map and she has no chance.

The report -

[999tommo]

Similar to Lost_Property, my wife is one of those upside down readers when travelling south, so she doesn't get her lefts and rights confused. The number of unnecessary domestics we have had on long journeys to the south of France have probably reached into three figures ! Since Tom Tom, she doesn't need to read a map, but I still buy an up to date one as a quick reference guide.

Perhaps instead of BC and AD as references to dates, we should now have BTT and ATT. Our travelling has certainly been more of a pleasure ATT.
_________________
Tommo...

Regularly absent, but still here in spirit !

[GPS_fan]

We see you’re using an ad-blocker. We’re fine with that and won’t stop you visiting the site.
Have you considered making a donation towards website running costs?.
Or you could disable your ad-blocker for this site. We think you’ll find our adverts are not overbearing!