Research shows TomToms improve road safety
TomTom helps mobile people to get to their destination as quickly and simply as possible. But in doing so, road safety has to be our absolute priority.

The birth of portable navigators
The introduction of personal navigation devices (PNDs) has changed the way we drive. The first navigation systems were mainly built into more expensive cars and it was only with the arrival of portable navigation systems in 2004 that the market really started to take off.

Early opinion divided
But wide consumer acceptance of navigation systems raises questions, including the central issue of safety: What are the concrete effects of the use of navigation systems on traffic safety?

Some argued that PND’s have a positive influence on traffic safety: Using a PND you arrive more quickly at your destination - and spend less time looking for the right route. Because less time is spent in traffic, the chances of traffic accidents are reduced.

Others argued that PND’s have a negative influence, claiming they distract drivers, leaving them less able to concentrate on their driving. Or that because PND’s make driving easier, the number of journeys might increase.

Researching the definitive answer
Delta Lloyd Verzekeringen (Insurance), TomTom, Aon Nederland and Athlon Car Lease joined forces to commission the leading Dutch independent research institute TNO to carry out extensive research into the actual influence of navigation systems on traffic safety.
 
Various research methods were used in this unique study, which took over six months to complete, in December 2006. The result finally gives us a clear picture of the influence of navigation systems on traffic safety.

Overall conclusion
The study provides objective evidence of the value of navigation systems like TomTom’s and clearly demonstrates their positive impact on traffic safety!

Key findings
The key findings of the research were that:

• Using a navigation system makes people feel more in control, less distracted & less stressed.
• Without a navigation system, there are 12% more claimed accidents and 5% more in claimed damage costs.
• Using a navigation system improves reaction times by 12%.
• The driver’s workload is reduced by 20% when using a navigation system.
• Mileage is reduced by 16% and driving time by 18% when using a navigation system.

Helping our users help themselves
At TomTom we want our customers to reach their destinations easily and quickly, but especially safely.

To educate people in road safety, we include a safety leaflet in all product boxes that makes users fully aware of all the product’s safety features and provides information on how to use the device in the safest possible way.

Read the press release