Stranded in Winter Weather? GPS Can Help
By Jeff Bertloucci, Kiplinger.com
Driving through a winter snowstorm is always risky, a fact tragically illustrated this week by the death of 35-year-old James Kim. Kim, his wife Kati, and their two young daughters were stranded while driving in a remote section of Oregon. Although Kati and the girls were rescued, James died after leaving on foot to get help for his family.
For winter driving, a GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation device can help you avoid and get out of trouble. Palm-sized GPS devices from companies such as Garmin (www.garmin.com) and Magellan (www.magellangps.com) give you precise road directions. Slightly larger than an iPod, these devices attach to your car’s dashboard or can fit in your pocket if you’re on foot. Models start around $250.
How they work: First you enter your destination into the GPS navigator, and then approve the recommended route. As you drive, the device monitors your location and keeps you on track. For instance, if you’re driving through heavy rain or snow, it’s easy to miss a highway off-ramp or intersection. That’s where GPS steps in. Says Magellan spokesperson Angela Linsey-Jackson: “If you miss a turn, it’ll warn you and get you to the (right) exit.”
There are also GPS units that don’t provide road maps, but can lead you cross country through wilderness—hunters and hikers have been using these for years. Some GPS units do both road and cross-country orientation. For example, the Magellan Crossover GPS ($550) is a handheld, half-pound gadget that provides road directions, traffic reports, and contour maps and a compass screen.
Cellular phone providers have begun adding GPS features to their phones too. Verizon Wireless, for instance, sells the Motorola V325 ($130 with a 1-year plan), which uses GPS to provide real-time road directions.
One of the best-known GPS systems is part of General Motors’ OnStar , which uses a combination of GPS and cell phone technologies. If you or someone you see is in trouble, you push the OnStar emergency button, and OnStar will locate you and dispatch authorities to your location. If you’re within cell phone range, you can talk to an OnStar operator. Also, OnStar automatically sends help if your car is damaged and airbags deploy.
OnStar is available on more than 50 GM models, including Hummers and Saabs. Monthly service plans start at $17. Unfortunately, you can’t add OnStar to a car that doesn’t come with it.
Driving through a winter snowstorm is always risky, a fact tragically illustrated this week by the death of 35-year-old James Kim. Kim, his wife Kati, and their two young daughters were stranded while driving in a remote section of Oregon. Although Kati and the girls were rescued, James died after leaving on foot to get help for his family.
For winter driving, a GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation device can help you avoid and get out of trouble. Palm-sized GPS devices from companies such as Garmin (www.garmin.com) and Magellan (www.magellangps.com) give you precise road directions. Slightly larger than an iPod, these devices attach to your car’s dashboard or can fit in your pocket if you’re on foot. Models start around $250.
How they work: First you enter your destination into the GPS navigator, and then approve the recommended route. As you drive, the device monitors your location and keeps you on track. For instance, if you’re driving through heavy rain or snow, it’s easy to miss a highway off-ramp or intersection. That’s where GPS steps in. Says Magellan spokesperson Angela Linsey-Jackson: “If you miss a turn, it’ll warn you and get you to the (right) exit.”
There are also GPS units that don’t provide road maps, but can lead you cross country through wilderness—hunters and hikers have been using these for years. Some GPS units do both road and cross-country orientation. For example, the Magellan Crossover GPS ($550) is a handheld, half-pound gadget that provides road directions, traffic reports, and contour maps and a compass screen.
Cellular phone providers have begun adding GPS features to their phones too. Verizon Wireless, for instance, sells the Motorola V325 ($130 with a 1-year plan), which uses GPS to provide real-time road directions.
One of the best-known GPS systems is part of General Motors’ OnStar , which uses a combination of GPS and cell phone technologies. If you or someone you see is in trouble, you push the OnStar emergency button, and OnStar will locate you and dispatch authorities to your location. If you’re within cell phone range, you can talk to an OnStar operator. Also, OnStar automatically sends help if your car is damaged and airbags deploy.
OnStar is available on more than 50 GM models, including Hummers and Saabs. Monthly service plans start at $17. Unfortunately, you can’t add OnStar to a car that doesn’t come with it.
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