GPS - Think safety before you buy

Prior to April 15, 2008, looking at the display of a GPS receiver while driving was illegal in Quebec, although tolerated by police. Since that date, the use of GPS receivers inside vehicles has been legal, but drivers must respect certain rules – essentially, measures governing the safe installation and use of the devices. As for the rest, you simply have to think safety before you buy. Don’t forget: paying attention to the road is your first priority!

How to safely install a GPS receiver

The screen must be:

• affixed directly to the vehicle or be held in place by a fixed mount;
• placed so that it displays the visual information as close as possible to your line of sight, but it must not obstruct your view or interfere with your driving;
• placed in a manner that does not present a risk of injury in an accident; under no circumstances must it be mounted in front of passenger side airbag, for example.

Some experts suggest mounting the receiver on the dashboard to the right of the steering wheel, or right next to the rear-view mirror. The best advice is to follow the instructions in the device’s user guide, to the letter. And if you aren’t using your receiver, it’s best to simply remove it from the vehicle, to avoid the risk of injury – and of theft as well.

Before you leave…

• Always program your GPS receiver before you hit the road.
• Then, check that the final destination programmed into the unit is indeed where you want to go (if you made a keystroke error or incorrect selection, you might be tempted to reprogram while on the road, which is to be avoided).

In short, never operate your GPS receiver while you are driving!

Make safety one of your purchase criteria!

Check the following features, among others:

• The volume level: can you hear the unit’s audible directions properly?
• Does the model you are considering feature voice recognition? This is a very recent function, so it’s available only on a few GPS models. You’ll be able to “talk to” your receiver, but it’s always best to pull over in a safe location to program it.
• Is the model equipped with a traffic alerts receiver? At the moment, traffic alerts are only available on the Island of Montreal, but the technology is rapidly evolving, and traffic alerts should be available everywhere within a few years. You have to subscribe to receive the alerts, which costs extra, but they can save you time and help you negotiate traffic safely.
• Does the model feature anti-theft protection?

Other practical issues

Here are some further tips to help you choose a GPS receiver that matches your personal tastes and preferences:

• Study the dimensions of the unit itself, as well as the configuration of the buttons, to be sure you can program it easily.
• Check the battery life if you intend to use the receiver while walking.
• Assess your map needs. Most GPS receivers come preloaded with maps of Canada, the United States and Mexico, but not Europe. Find out how much it costs to upgrade maps and how easy it is to download them.
• Most recent models feature the SiRF intelligent location awareness chipset, which maintains positioning if the satellite signals are lost (in tunnels or underground parking garages). Check whether the unit you are planning to buy has SiRF.
• Find out what points of interest (POIs) are included and whether you can add your own. For example, you can add all Couche-Tard locations to the unit’s database and earn CAA-Quebec Dollars more easily.
• Ask yourself whether you need features like an integrated MP3 player, Bluetooth connectivity, photo viewer, currency converter, calculator, etc.

Any more questions?

Consult the CAA-Quebec has tried for you - GPS receivers section
As a CAA-Quebec member, you can get free advice from the experts at our Automotive Advisory Services.