This is how your GPS device could help save your life!

Whether driving to work or taking a road trip for the holidays, there’s no telling what you might encounter on the road. Drivers need to be prepared for anything that comes their way and, while many would expect this to involve an expensive advanced driving course or a stronger eyewear prescription, a GPS device provides a range of safety features that not many people know about.

TomTom, the global leader in innovative and cutting-edge navigation products, offers advice on how to put your simple GPS device to good use on the road, to make sure you get to your destination safely.

Avoid hijackings and other dangerous situations

While many people still prefer to stop and have a look at a fold-out roadmap to find their way around or out of an unfamiliar area, this is not always an option at night or in areas known for hijackings. Using a GPS device allows you to quickly and efficiently search for directions, with many of the latest devices offering voice activation to make the process even easier while driving. This ensures you’ll never have to stop to check a map or ask for directions again, helping you get to your destination on time and safely.

No signal? No stress!

One of the many benefits of using a GPS device is that it does not rely on Internet data to function. This means you can still use your device, even if you find yourself in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone signal. While many GPS device users are unaware of this and take this feature for granted, it could mean the difference between being stranded on a dusty, abandoned road in the middle of the night or finding the best and safest route to your destination. What’s more, TomTom anticipated the need to keep your device’s maps up to date (because an outdated GPS device is of little use when you’re already on the road) – so many of the TomTom GO series devices come fitted with an always connescted built-in sim card to automatically update its software and give you live traffic information updated every 2 minutes.

Receive regular reminders to watch your speed

With so many tragic accidents taking place on South African roads daily, most of us are aware of the danger of speeding. However, sometimes it’s just too easy to put that pedal to metal and, before you know it, you’re cruising well above the speed limit. TomTom GPS devices sound an alert when you’ve reached or exceeded the speed limit for the road or freeway you’re travelling on, and offer advance warnings for speed cameras on your route to help you slow down.

Keep loved ones updated along the way

Another major cause of road accidents and deaths are motorists using their cell phones while driving. Whether you’re trying to type a quick message to a loved one to let them know what time you’ll be arriving or fumbling with a map application when you need to find direction on the go, using your cell phone while driving is highly distracting and very dangerous. In fact, studies have shown that distractions impair a driver’s reaction time by up to 35% – worse than that of a drunk driver. The TomTom Via 62 and GO6200 ensures minimal distraction while driving with its Bluetooth Enabled smart phone pairing that lets you listen to messages read aloud and use simple voice commands to make hands-free calls.

Avoid traffic congestion and incidents

With many South African cities ranking higher than most in TomTom’s global Traffic Index, drivers definitely need to take a new approach to their daily commute in order to stay safe on our roads. GPS devices like TomTom’s Via and GO ranges are designed to help you avoid congested routes, using innovative technology to provide users with alternative routes and live traffic through smartphone pairing and always connected sim or to help you avoid the congestion that typically occurs on main roads and freeways. Making use of this latest technology available through the simple GPS device goes a long way towards reducing the frustration of sitting in back to back traffic.

There are many ways to stay safe on South African roads using your TomTom GPS device, whether you’re travelling on daily commutes or heading out on a lengthy road trip for the holidays. Equipped with the world’s most innovative features, TomTom’s navigation products are designed to get you to your destination safely, no matter where you’re off to.

Visit www.tomtom.com for more information on the full range of TomTom GO device and other fitness and action-capturing products.

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