Some recent research conducted independently has discovered that by using a GPS device, car drivers can in fact have a positive effect on the environment as opposed to not using one at all.  The study was conducted over a 12 month period and was focused on drivers who partake in every day driving activities such as shopping, school runs, commuting to and from work, and short distances to visit friends.  The top-line findings stats that drivers that use navigation devices in their car will spend less time on average driving and they will also tend to drive shorter distances.  The positive effect of this is reducing CO2 emissions, fuel costs – and ultimately their carbon footprint.

Driving Using a GPS – Study Findings and Figures

  • Drives shorter distances
  • Spends less time driving
  • Increased fuel efficiency of up to 12%
  • Fuel consumption falls from 8.3 to 7.3 liters per 100 kilometers
  • Increased fuel economy means a .91 metric ton reduction in carbon dioxide annually per driver
  • Translates as 24% decrease compared to those not using a GPS
  • Annual decrease in distance travelled by 2500 kilometers per driver
All of which points to driving in a greener, more efficient way.

Background to the Study

The research was carried out in Germany in the Munich and Dusseldorf areas.  The reason Germany was chosen for the research was because it has a complicated road network and drivers there are more prone to using GPS devices.  The study groups were split up into three sections:

  1. Those that received and used a GPS Navigation System in their car which included Real Time Traffic information (to avoid traffic jams)
  2. Those that received and used a GPS Navigation System that didn’t include Real Time Traffic Alerts
  3. Those that didn’t use a GPS Navigation System at all

Each car was fitted with a tracking device in order to trace what routes they were taking at all times – it also enabled monitoring of their driving styles and speeds.

In total the research studied over two thousand car journeys which amounted to 20,000 kilometers of distance covered over a total of five hundred in-car hours.  It should be noted that drivers who were not familiar with GPS products did take a little bit longer than average to reduce their driving times, but once they did the learning curve was almost immediate.

Want to Know More About GPS Map Updates?

For more information on how a Honda GPS Map Update can save you both money, time, and on your carbon footprint, please visit www.hondanavigationdvd.net which includes everything you need to know about Navigation DVDs for the entire Honda range of motor vehicles that come with a dashboard GPS device installed as standard.

Green Living