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Study: GPS systems with real-time traffic can save drivers four days per year, cut emissions by 21%

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:28:00 EST

In Los Angeles, the 101/405 interchange is so congested that in 2002 it was determined that 27,144 hours per year were wasted trying to get from one freeway to the other. That's over 1,100 days. Per year. Not only does that number sound wildly low, but we guarantee it's gotten worse in the last seven years. Much worse. But according to a new study, GPS-systems with real-time traffic info can save American drivers four days a year of being mired in lousy traffic.

Now, we're taking this particular study with a grain of salt because it was sponsored by nav-system data-provider NAVTEQ. Still, even if it's only half true, we'll take our two days back. Here's what they did: The study looked at three types of drivers in a metro area (in this case the German cities of Dusseldorf and Munich), drivers with no navigation, drivers with static navigation and drivers with real-time traffic enabled navigation.

Not surprisingly, the third group of drivers spend 18% less time on their trips than the other two sets. Multiply those results out over a year and you save four days. Not only that, but it would lower the average driver's CO2 output by 21%. Of course, we're not sure how this would effect time spent stuck on interchanges like the aforementioned 101/405 where there's always traffic - no matter what - and there's really no other way to go. Full press release after the jump.

[Source: NAVTEQ | Photo by Scott Beale / Laughing Squid]

Continue reading Study: GPS systems with real-time traffic can save drivers four days per year, cut emissions by 21%

Study: GPS systems with real-time traffic can save drivers four days per year, cut emissions by 21% originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can GPS units makes you more fuel efficient? Navteq seems to think so...

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 01 May 2009 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Green, Technology

A recent survey conducted by research firm NuStats and funded by GPS-maker NAVTEQ found that drivers equipped with in-car navigation units use 12% less fuel than their non-guided counterparts. The study focused on three groups of drivers in Germany. The first used no GPS at all, the second had a basic GPS and the third had a GPS unit that included traffic information. None of the participants had previously owned navigation units.

Once the participating drivers that had been given GPS units got used to relying on the computer's directions, some interesting results were observed. Drivers with navigation units ended up driving shorter distances and spent less time behind the wheel. As a result, these drivers used less fuel than motorists without GPS units. Want to know more? See the full press release after the break.

[Source: NAVTEQ via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Can GPS units makes you more fuel efficient? Navteq seems to think so...

Can GPS units makes you more fuel efficient? Navteq seems to think so... originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 May 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Freightliner debuts RunSmart Predictive Cruise Control

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:34:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Work, Daimler

The next step in cruise control comes courtesy of Freightliner semis and GPS data company NAVTEQ. Freightliner broadened communication between the cruise control and map data: the GPS transmits information on the road ahead up to a mile, and then the cruise control computes the best speed at which to cover the distance with the greatest fuel efficiency.

It's called RunSmart Predictive Cruise, and it employs slope data from the NAVTEQ system that has been collected on 200,000 miles of the most used truck routes. While RunSmart is looking for peak efficiency, it won't sacrifice speed; the system remains within 6% of the set speed. It's an available option on Freightliner's Detroit Diesel DD15-equipped Cascadia model with the 72-inch raised roof.

[Source: Daimler]

Freightliner debuts RunSmart Predictive Cruise Control originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VZ Navigator: Do not pass Go, do pass destination, go directly to jail

Joel Arellano — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Gadgets, Etc., I.C.E., Technology

Martha McKay of the Wichita Eagle recently tested the VZ Navigator, a GPS navigation system offered by Verizon for its Motorola V325 cell phone. The service became available in January.

In a similar manner to TechnoRide's testing of OnStar's Turn-By-Turn service, McKay entered her destination address into the cellphone, which downloaded directions to the unit. McKay then followed "Michelle's" voice prompts and found herself driving a half-mile past her destination to the Bergen County Jail. A Verizon representative later explained that the VZ Navigator's mapping directions are provided by Navteq Corp., and such inaccurate information was probably an aberration.

Uh-huh. McKay at least can take some comfort that VZ Navigator didn't guide her over a cliff. Share your sat-nav experiences (good and bad) with your fellow reader in 'comments.'

[Source: The Record via The Wichita Eagle]

VZ Navigator: Do not pass Go, *do* pass destination, go directly to jail originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Apr 2006 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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