How to Efficiently Use Your GPS
During a local road trip:
Travellers tend to feel overly confident when they stay within their own country. But think about it: how many times have we gotten lost in a town while looking for a small restaurant or rest stop? To avoid having this happen again, follow these tips for using your GPS:
- Update your GPS' road maps – it's a must!
- Plan your itinerary and add intermediate destinations if you plan to stop to eat or spend the night somewhere. Just in case, save your preferred destinations; this way you won't have to search for them if anything unexpected happens.
- If you're looking for an attraction, a restaurant, or a rest stop, do it with your GPS: it will also let you know how far you are from your destination and how much time it'll take you to get there.
- Don't rely solely on your GPS. If it's suggesting a road that seems impractical, trust your instincts and take another path: your GPS will calculate a new itinerary accordingly.
On your cell phone:
A cell phone's GPS can come in handy during an improvised journey or when you're lost. However, you need to know how to use it properly:
- If you're using your cell phone as your main GPS, use a cell phone mount. It's safer because you can keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the steering wheel. Also make sure to activate the vocal instructions.
- Download and try a few mobile applications, and only keep the ones that best suit your needs.
- Make sure you have access to the Internet throughout your journey. Otherwise, you could lose your maps and itinerary.
While travelling abroad:
Driving abroad is often synonymous with rental cars, diverging rules, and new signalling. Before settling in behind the wheel, make sure you know and understand any and all changes in driving habits that could affect you (priorities, courtesy rules, etc.) Moreover, personalizing your rented GPS is paramount. To do so, you must:
- Configure the GPS according to your personal habits: select your preferred language, define the display parameters for speed (km vs. miles per hour), adjust the sound level, etc.
- Use the speed control tool if it is available. It will warn you if you go over the speed limit. However, you sometimes need to pay for this option; find out!
These useful tips can positively impact your journey and help you avoid headaches! Have a great trip!
