How to Use GPS Without Getting Distracted
Set your destination and your route before you start driving, so the GPS only needs glances, not your attention.
Set it up before you shift into drive
The way to use GPS without getting distracted is to do all the typing and route picking while the car is parked. Enter the address, confirm the route, and set the volume for voice directions before you pull out. Once you're moving, the only thing the GPS should need from you is a glance now and then, not a tap or a scroll.
This matters more as reaction time slows with age, but it holds for every driver. A glance at a screen is a glance off the road no matter how good your eyes or your reflexes are. Mounting the phone or device at eye level near the windshield, rather than low on the dash or in your lap, cuts down how far your eyes have to travel and how long they're away from the road.
Where the device is mounted changes how much it pulls your attention
A phone propped in a cup holder or lying flat on the passenger seat asks you to look down and away from traffic every time you check it. A mount that holds the device near the windshield, at or close to your normal sightline, means your eyes barely leave the road to catch the next turn.
Voice guidance matters here too. If the GPS speaks the turn out loud with enough notice, you don't need to look at the screen at all for most of the trip. Check that your device's voice volume is loud enough to hear over road noise before you leave, not after you're already on the highway straining to hear it.
If you wear hearing aids, test the GPS voice with them in beforehand. Some phone speakers don't pair well with certain hearing aids, and finding that out at a red light is better than finding it out mid-turn.
A few states have specific rules about where a phone can be mounted on the windshield. If you're not sure what yours allows, your state's DMV website will have it.
What most people get wrong: changing the destination mid-trip
Most distracted driving tied to GPS doesn't happen during setup. It happens when the driver decides to add a stop, check an alternate route, or retype an address because the first one was wrong, all while still moving. That's when a glance turns into several seconds of looking down.
If you need to change anything once you're on the road, the safer move is to pull into a parking lot or rest area rather than try to do it at a light or a stop sign. Lights change faster than people expect, and a stopped car in traffic is still a hazard if you're heads-down in a screen.
Some GPS apps let you speak a new destination instead of typing it. If yours does, that's worth using instead of pulling over every time, though you should still wait until you're not navigating a turn or merging when you give the voice command.
If a passenger is with you, handing them the phone to make changes is simpler and safer than doing it yourself.
Questions people ask about this
Does using GPS while driving count as distracted driving under the law?
It can, depending on how you're interacting with it and what your state's distracted driving law covers. Many states treat holding or manipulating a phone while driving as illegal regardless of what app is open, GPS included. Check your state's handheld device law to see what's allowed with a mounted phone versus one held in your hand.
Is a dedicated GPS device safer than using a phone for navigation?
A dedicated GPS device can reduce some distractions because it doesn't also carry texts, calls, and notifications competing for your attention. The safety difference mostly comes down to whether the device is mounted properly and whether you set the route before driving, which matters whether you're using a phone or a standalone unit.
What's the best way to mount a phone for GPS in an older car without a built-in mount?
A windshield or dashboard mount designed to hold the phone near eye level works in most cars regardless of age. Look for one that clips to an air vent or sticks to the dash, and position it so you're not reaching far or tilting your head down to see it.
Should I turn off GPS voice alerts for traffic and speed cameras?
That depends on what you find more distracting, frequent alerts or missing information about the road ahead. If the alerts are frequent enough to feel like a constant interruption, most apps let you turn off specific categories like speed camera warnings while keeping turn-by-turn directions on.
Does my car insurance ask whether I use GPS or hands-free devices?
Insurers generally don't ask about GPS use directly, but some offer programs that track driving habits, including phone handling, through an app or device. If you're asked to install one, ask your insurer what exactly it measures before you agree to it.
If you're due for a renewal, it's worth seeing what other insurers would charge for the same coverage.
Before your next drive, set up a mount near your windshield or dashboard if you don't already have one, and test the voice volume with the windows down to make sure you can hear it over road noise. Enter your destination and confirm the route before you start the car, not after. If you often need to add stops, find out whether your GPS app supports voice commands so you can avoid typing while moving. When your renewal notice comes, ask your insurer whether they have any program tied to safe driving habits, including phone use, and what it would require you to install or share.
