Are navigation apps a necessity or source of distraction while driving? UAE motorists, experts weigh in

Dubai: Pakistani expat Arif Ahmed is a happy motorist. He says every time he sets off in his SUV, he feels safe with his ‘navigator’ on board. He gets prompt alerts in a distinctly American accent and they include everything from traffic congestion, an approaching breakdown or an alternative route to the presence of an upcoming camera or even a police patrol on the shoulder.

“That’s why I use the app, although I know my way around as I have been in the UAE for 30 years,” says Ahmed.

Egyptian expat, Mina Kiwan, who uses another navigation app, says he cannot do without it.

“Nowadays, with roadworks happening in so many places and new roads and bridges coming up all the time, I can get lost without navigation. I am always looking for the best route to avoid traffic,” says the 40 year old.

The use of navigation apps by motorists has become so extensive that it is almost a given today. While on the one hand, it is felt that there is an imperative need for them, there are also questions being asked about whether there is an overdependence on them and whether they can be source of distraction.

According to Thomas Edelmann, founder of RoadSafetyUAE, “Motorists use their navigation systems a lot and this is due to the ever-changing landscape of the road network. We just want to know the best way to reach our destination. Many also check their well-known routes, as due to current traffic situations, the normal way taken might not be the best one on certain busy days or in certain weather conditions.”

He explains how while driving in new areas, both domestically and while on vacation in other parts of the world, navigation systems come in handy.

However, he has a word of caution.

“Motorists must be aware that the use of navigation systems poses the risk of distraction,” he says.

According to Edelmann, “The most recent data available from the Ministry of Interior shows that in 2023, 26 per cent of all fatal road accidents were caused by distracted driving in the UAE.

“From a ‘Distracted Driving Root Causes’ survey done by RoadSafetyUAE jointly with Al Wathba National Insurance at the beginning of 2024 with a UAE representative sample of n=1,000, the navigation system came in as the N0. 2 distraction, as 28 per cent of UAE motorists claim they were distracted by the use of their navigation system,” said the road safety expert.

Motorists like Kiwan say much as he cannot do without the navigation system, he sees a downside to it.

“Personally, it is not so much about the distraction as it is about the fact that it is not always updated for me. So, there are times when I end up losing my way – and cool – when that happens,” he notes.

Sadig Ibrahim, a Sudanese expat in Dubai, said he prefers not to use any navigation when he is driving. “Only if it is unavoidable, I refer to the map. Otherwise, I just go with the flow, like in the old times. Looking at my phone can distract me from the road and the action all around.”

The impact of distraction on the mind and the cognitive ability of a driver must not be taken lightly, says a psychiatrist.

According to Dr. Waleed Al Omar, Specialist Psychiatry, Medcare Sharjah, “Drivers’ over-reliance on navigation has a variety of psychological effects.”

They include everything from traffic congestion, an approaching breakdown or an alternative route to the presence of an upcoming camera or even a police patrol on the shoulder.

, “Drivers’ over-reliance on navigation has a variety of psychological effects.”

He breaks them down as under:

1. Reduced spatial awareness and cognitive mapping: Excessive reliance on GPS technology might impair drivers’ spatial awareness and capacity to create mental maps. When drivers use GPS on a regular basis, they are less likely to pay attention to landmarks or familiarity with routes. This reliance could hamper their navigation abilities, leading to a reliance on GPS even for known destinations.

2. Increased cognitive load and distractibility: Using navigation while driving might increase cognitive load as drivers shift their attention between the navigation screen and the road. Frequent stares at the phone screen, particularly to interpret complex directions or unexpected route changes, might cause distraction, which is especially dangerous on roads with high speeds. This split focus can lead to slower reaction times and an increased chance of an accident.

3. False sense of security: While navigation provides a sense of direction and control, it can also cause overconfidence. Drivers may become unduly reliant on GPS for route accuracy, which can lead to unsafe behaviours such as overlooking their surroundings, missing road signs, or failing to anticipate bottlenecks.

4. Stress and anxiety: Anxiety and stress can result from an over-reliance on navigation, particularly when the technology malfunctions—for example, when a signal is lost or calculations are made prematurely. This is particularly important in the UAE, where a substantial number of expatriate drivers are unfamiliar with road networks. When navigation technology fails, drivers may experience higher levels of stress, irritation, or panic, which may affect their concentration and decision-making on the road.

5. Impact on long-term navigational skills: Long-term navigation use may decrease drivers’ natural navigation abilities, such as spatial memory and directional orientation. This loss of internal navigational capacity can cause drivers to feel “lost” without the device, reducing their confidence in navigating independently and continuing dependence on technology for even short or routine trips.

From a psychiatrist's point of view, Dr. Al Omar says navigation systems can impact driving itself in many ways:

1. Visual distraction: Looking at the navigation screen to get instructions draws the driver’s attention away from the road, even if only for a second. Such momentary glances in high-speed or complex traffic scenarios can result in decreased situational awareness, delayed reactions, and increased accident risks.

2. Cognitive distraction: Following navigation directions involves brain processing, especially in unfamiliar or high-traffic regions. Processing the instructions, recalculating routes, or comprehending complex directions can increase a driver’s cognitive burden, diverting attention away from the road and surroundings.

3. Manual distraction: Manually engaging with a navigation device while driving, such as entering addresses or modifying settings, requires removing one or both hands off the wheel, which can be extremely dangerous. Any time a driver physically interacts with an electronic device rather than totally directing the car increases the risk.

4. Last-minute maneuovres: Navigation devices occasionally provide directions near an intersection or exit, resulting in abrupt lane changes or turns. This may surprise other drivers, resulting in near-misses or crashes, particularly in fast-moving or crowded traffic circumstances that are very common scenarios in the UAE.

5. False sense of precision: Some drivers may rely solely on the navigation’s advised route, assuming it is always correct and up to date. Where road layouts are often changing due to development, obsolete data might lead vehicles to dead ends, detours, or unsafe routes. Relying on navigation directions without considering real-time road conditions might lead to accidents.

Make sure you use the best online navigation system for your geography

Plan ahead and check your route in the navigation system, even before you start you vehicle

If your car has a built-in navigation system with up-to-date maps, use it

Should you prefer to use your mobile phone to navigate, ideally connect it with your car’s in-built system

Otherwise, have a proper mobile phone holder installed, which holds your mobile device on eye level

Disable all other functions of your phone in order not to be tempted to react to incoming calls or messages

Should you use offline maps at a new location, make sure you update them