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Where to Place your Sat-Nav in your Car
Reading time 4 minutes • Last updated on February 27th, 2024
Categories Driving Law »
Last updated on February 27th, 2024What does this mean?
Sat-nav devices have now become an essential for most vehicles, with drivers doing away with traditional maps in favour of a smaller, more direct visual aid.
What many people seem to have forgotten however, is that you’re not supposed to have anything blocking your view of the road or your mirrors according to the Highway Code. This is not something you’re likely to get pulled over for if you’re sensible, but it’s worth putting more consideration into where to place your sat-nav in your car.
Every vehicle differs in terms of seat height, window size and dashboard shape, so there isn’t a definitive answer to suit everyone. The best thing to do is find a device which mounts to your dashboard, away from your windscreen. What you have to keep in mind when sticking a device to your windscreen, is how your view is affected by the placement.
Ideally, the sat nav should be placed in the bottom right corner of the car windscreen so that you can see most of the road. If this is not possible, place the sat nav as the lowest point in the windscreen.
In general try and follow the points below:
There is some advice online which claims one of the best places to stick your sat-nav is on the side window, but considering you’re required to have a clear view of your side mirrors, it is not advisable to place your device here.
You can use your mobile phone for sat nav whilst driving but only if your phone is in a hands-free position. The phone must be mounted in a place that does not affect the driver’s view of the road, and the driver is not allowed to press any buttons on the device whilst driving.
Rules 149 and 150 of the Highway Code dictate that a driver must always be in control of a vehicle – fiddling with your phone could put you in breach of these rules. This applies to being stopped at traffic lights, too – make sure to set your route before you begin your journey.
Technically, you can be pulled over for having a sat-nav on your windscreen, but barring a ridiculous placement of the device, you’re unlikely to be stopped. So, while the letter of the law makes it illegal to place a sat-nav on the windscreen, you can stay on the right side of the law by following advice on the appropriate placement for your vehicle.
If you need to use a sat-nav, it’s best to place it on your dashboard. Many smartphones now come with a sat-nav app built in, so you can now keep on the right side of the law when it comes to phone usage too.
When your sat-nav is not in use, take it off the windscreen or dashboard and store it somewhere out of sight. You’re more likely to have your vehicle broken into if you leave such a valuable item in plain view.
If your windscreen has suffered damage it could be impacting your view of the road, putting you and other road users at risk. For windscreen repairs or replacements, look no further than The Windscreen Company. We provide a mobile service, coming to your aid at the roadside or at your commercial premises.
Contact our professional team on Call us on 08009 981 068 for more details or to book a visit.
The Windscreen Company, has over 20 years of experience in windscreen repair and replacement. Since 1998, they have been at the forefront of industry innovation, leveraging the latest technology to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.
The Windscreen Company's, help-and-advice pages offer valuable tips and guidance on maintaining vehicle safety through quality windscreen care, while also featuring updated industry realted content.
The information within this article was accurate on the date the article was last updated based on the information that was openly available on the topic online. The Windscreen Company accepts no liability for any loss or damage caused by or connected with any error or omission in this article. You should make your own judgement in regards to use of this document and seek professional advice on your particular circumstances.
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