Get from A to B with GPS

Where in the world would we be without GPS technology to tell us where in the world we are? Not so far back in history, explorers set out for distant lands armed with only a few incomplete and rather fanciful maps, a compass, a fair knowledge of the stars, and a favorable wind.

Today, it is now possible for anyone to plug in a small device the size of a hamburger and drive to any destination in the world with an accuracy of a few meters. The fact that most people seem to use this technology to find, say, the most efficient route to the bowling alley while avoiding rush hour traffic and the junction with the slowly changing lights is neither here nor there: what matters is the potential value!

It’s easy for people to scoff at the idea of ​​needing this technology, citing cases of explorers sailing the seas to find new worlds with little more than a pocket watch and the stars. But while they may have lived in a world whose maps contained swaths of empty space marked only with a hyphen declaring “here be dragons,” today we are armed with maps that change every two minutes and contain multitudes of annotations declaring ” there are road works here”. ‘, ‘here are temporary counterflow diversions,’ and ‘here is a ten-mile backlog as a result of an overturned truck carrying fourteen hundred chickens.’

Because there are nearly 700 million cars in the world, driving from A to B rarely involves starting at point A and driving like a Roman to point B. Not that Romans drove, but you get the idea. This type of trip usually involves driving from A to B via point C on a Sunday afternoon, but via point D during rush hour. What if you need to stop at point E on a Sunday night, but at a time when there’s a big game on and traffic is likely to be heavier?

Driving is no longer a simple matter, so GPS technology can lend a hand. It’s not just about comfort, it’s about safety. The more traffic there is on the roads, the greater the probability of an accident and, as a result, a traffic jam. Roadworks are no longer simply an inconvenience, they can add hours to a trip. What has been needed for some time is a system that is capable of coordinating much of the traffic on highways, diverting excess traffic on some highways at certain times to relieve congestion and keep everyone moving.

With GPS technology that accesses up-to-the-minute data on road conditions transmitted directly to your dashboard via satellite, you become one of those vehicles that help alleviate road conditions by helping you get you where you need to be faster and more safely. You’re also helping to do your part to alleviate problems elsewhere, which will certainly help you feel good about doing your part.

So where would we be without GPS systems? Stuck on the freeway, spending a hot Sunday afternoon behind a chicken truck.