Some months ago I wrote about my unpleasant experience with the TomTom GPS device. Despite being the “latest, state-of-the-art” model, it was not only a pain to use, but damned dangerous as well. With its tiny screen, almost invisible from the driving position (you have to position it close to the windshield) and the screeching voice of Helga telling me to “Turn around, you are going in the wrong direction”, it was all I could do to avoid going off the road! The biggest problem however was the fact that it almost never chose the most efficient route, especially during rush-hour traffic. Since I was testing it out in my home city, I invariably new far better routes than the TomTom. In fact, even if I hit the “alternate route” button, it never chose any of the better routes that I knew from experience. Needless to say it was not long for this world and I returned it after about a week. Interestingly, my good friend Mr. Italo had the same experience and returned his unit shortly thereafter.

Well, I’m here to tell you that I was wrong and I take it back. Another TomTom (or other brand) may be in my near future. Here’s why:

I just spent two days driving to appointments in Quebec City, relying primarily on maps from Mapquest and backed up by the GPS in my iPhone. Man did I get lost! For some strange reason, the street designers in Quebec City chose to either not put street signs on about half their intersections, or worse still, the same street will have a different name depending on whether you are looking left or right! I’ve seen this bizarre phenomenon in other cities, e.g. Toronto, but whereas there it might be an occasional anomaly, in Quebec City it appears quite routine.  So you’re driving down a major thoroughfare following the Mapquest directions and looking for La Faune Street, but it is nowhere to be found because you just passed it but there was no street sign at the intersection. Or you happen to be looking at the street sign on the left side of the intersection and you see Zoo Street, not realizing that if you looked to the right, the same street is named La Faune going in that direction!

Two possible solutions:

1. Go back to using a paper map and actually getting some brain exercise at the same time. Not bad, but a pain-in the-butt to buy and carry different maps for wherever you’re going, and no provision for changed street names and configurations when entering new developments.

2. Get a GPS with verbal instructions.

Here’s what I realized. Your own city is the worst place to test a GPS because it can never compete with your knowledge and experience. You must test it in a less familiar city because frankly, even though it may not get you there in the most efficient manner….it will eventually get you there!