FROM NAVIGATION AID TO SAFETY RISK: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF GPS USE WHILE DRIVING
Keywords:
Satellite navigation systems, driver distraction, driving behavior, human-machine interface, road safetyAbstract
Satellite Navigation Systems have become integral to modern driving by enhancing navigational efficiency and supporting driver decision-making. Nevertheless, empirical evidence regarding their impact on road safety remains inconsistent, particularly with respect to driver distraction arising from human–machine interface interaction. This study aimed to systematically synthesize quantitative evidence on the dual effects of satellite navigation system use on driving behavior and crash risk. A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Five electronic databases—PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar—were searched for studies published between 2000 and 2025. Inclusion criteria comprised empirical studies reporting quantitative outcomes related to satellite navigation system use during driving, including simulator-based experiments, naturalistic driving studies, and telematics data analyses. Theoretical papers and studies lacking quantitative measures were excluded. Seventy studies met the inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis, of which eight studies with comparable outcome measures were included in a random-effects meta-analysis. The results indicate that low-interaction satellite navigation use, such as voice-only guidance and pre-trip destination programming, is associated with improved driving efficiency, including a 16% reduction in travel distance, an 18% reduction in travel time, and a 12% decrease in crash-related insurance claims. In contrast, visual–manual interaction with navigation systems during driving significantly increases crash risk by 28% (pooled RR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.15–1.42), with screen-based tasks demonstrating the highest risk elevation (RR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.20–1.52). Effect sizes were consistently larger in simulator studies than in real-world studies, although the direction of effects was concordant across study designs. In conclusion, satellite navigation systems exhibit a conditional safety profile, enhancing road safety under low cognitive and visual demand conditions while increasing crash risk when interaction demands are high. These findings underscore the importance of safety-oriented human–machine interface design to mitigate driver distraction and improve road safety outcomes.
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