SatNav for fog conditions

[Agent Orange]

Possibly one for the "things non-petrol heads say" but last night coming home from the airport it was pretty foggy. Down to less than 10 metres visibility on the country lanes.

My colleague had his car at my house and had a further 45 minute journey home.

I say "I don't envy you if it's like this all the way home for you."
He says "It's ok I've got sat nav."
Me "Eh?"
Him "Mine shows the road ahead, bends, junctions on the TV it'll be ok."

He's not at work today. Day off apparently but could believe him nose first in a ditch somewhere.

[littleredrooster]

Pace notes for foggy conditions. Of course. Why didn't I think of that...

[mnkiboy]

I can see some value in knowing where the junctions and sharp bends are, but if he really believed he could drive 'via the satnav screen' then he needs to be put down.

[BOBTEE]

Why just fog? I've seen people driving like that in good conditions!

[vikingaero]

I mentioned this in the 90's when I got my first SatNav system - a £1,800 VDO Dayton. In unfamiliar surroundings I could see bends on the screen ahead and prepare for them. Same with road junctions. I saw my SatNav as education - bridges over rivers or railway lines that you near saw from the drivers seat, and small towns and villages off the main route.

On holiday I like finding roads that end againsts rivers and the sea. They lead to lovely beaches, coves, jetties and harbours.

[trashbat]

Like many things, it's a great idea until it isn't.

[thatdude]

littleredrooster said:

Pace notes for foggy conditions. Of course. Why didn't I think of that...

"4 left into 6 left, flat. Over crest into 5 right care ditch care jump care police occifer"

[sparkyhx]

littleredrooster said:

Pace notes for foggy conditions. Of course. Why didn't I think of that...

[J4CKO]

It adds to the avialable information but I wouldnt use it as anything other than a cursory idea that the next bend it a left hand bend or a junction is coming up, it isnt foolproof, I have foudn myself in the past, when its dark and I am going a bit quick and cant really see properly using it a bit too much, slowing down is the correct answer, its bit like driving a familiar road, sometimes we know it perfectly, until we go round a bend and find the fuel oil truck parked int he middle of the road or a Horse stood there. For those with common sense its useful, for cretins it is additional opportunities to do some stupid stuff and then blame it on somethign/somebody else.

I did read, Mercedes I think were using it to configure the cars brakes, gearbox, suspension and lighting, i.e. you are coming up to a bend it knows to adjust the dampers and perhaps add to the information used to either stay in a higher gear or to shift down

[Tomo1971]

I always thought that SatNav's had built in Radar too so you could tell if other cars were coming the other way?

No?

[Finlandia]

Just put it on cruise control and take a nap, it's like auto pilot on jets you know. What? The cruise control can't drive the car? Wtf..?

[nagsheadwarrior]

Good call to an extent.

If im pressing on on an unfamiliar road or driving in limited visibility I will have the satnav on as advance warning of sudden sharp bends etc that could otherwise catch you out.

[Himself]

I find it useful on unfamiliar roads as an indication of when the road might open up and present an overtaking opportunity. Shame it can't show other cars in real time...

[Agent Orange]

Ok I'm confused. Are some people actually endorsing this???!!

[Captain Muppet]

I was using satnav in the fog yesterday, but I had the screen facing away from me so I could concentrate on looking where I was going.

[Whitean3]

Agent Orange said:

Ok I'm confused. Are some people actually endorsing this???!!

If you have a passenger to help out, then yes, absolutely. Been on a very foggy hoon in the alps and it was invaluable for the lead car to have a passenger let the driver know the road ahead! The rest of us can be guided somewhat by taillights. You don't really want to mis a hairpin bend in the fog!

I don't think it's so clever for the driver to spend more time looking at the satnav screen than the road/fog ahead, but it is a useful reference.

[trashbat]

Agent Orange said:

Ok I'm confused. Are some people actually endorsing this???!!

Anything that improves your overall awareness, preparation and reduces the chance of 'comprehension fail' moments is a good thing. This includes a satnav giving you clues as to where the road goes.

Meanwhile, anything that distracts is a bad thing. Anything that encourages you to drive beyond the point of visibility and anticipation is a bad thing. Anything that provides misinformation is a bad thing, and this particular one is a mechanism that may well get it wrong.

[Benbay001]

Jesus Christ! People think this is a good idea? A foggy hoon over the alps? That's just crazy. What happens when the satnav doesn't tell you about the mud on the road or the fox that's in the road?

[MBZ 6]

I used to get called out at night to radio masts on the top of the Pennine,s and the Lake District,not only do you get fog but low cloud. Driving in low cloud,visibility can be down to a few meters so I used the sat nav to help me keep a track of where i am on the route. If you know the road well then it helps you to judge how far you have gone and remember what is coming up. Its easier with the sat nav than without. Driving slowly is the key plus sheep sleeping on the road are difficult to spot in fog, they make a real mess of your car if you hit one.

[Hoofy]

You can just about make out the sat nav voice... http://youtu.be/_57yutaZvl0