23.3.09

Online Driving Directions With Alerts

Before you drop $300 on that Garmin automobile navigation system, you may be wondering if you should stick with free online driving directions. After all, Yahoo and Google map developers are ambitiously working with cell phone application developers and carriers to offer mapping capabilities right on your mobile phone. In a few years' time, a car GPS device could become obsolete. Here are some practical pros and cons of the various map data sites.

Yahoo Maps driving directions allow online maps to be sent to mobile phones (for free), alerts you to traffic problems, lets you map multiple points and read local business reviews written by Yahoo users.

While other sites offer business reviews as well, Yahoo has the highest number of reviews, along with a 1 to 5 star rating system, which makes it much easier to sort through the data. You can also do a search based on ratings as well or type in something generic like "best pizza in Chicago" to get a list of top rated pizzerias.

Yahoo's construction and traffic information is notably reliable. However, like MapQuest maps, some of the Yahoo language can be awkward enough to get you lost once or twice. It is also difficult to re-route your way out of being lost. As well, Yahoo has the most paid ads in their local information search, so you may have to sort through some of the paid inclusion stuff to get to the objective reviews.

Online driving directions are not always perfect. In the worst case scenario, you may discover an error in your map data while you are navigating a new street, leaving you utterly lost and helpless. To avoid problems, it is best that you cross-reference your driving directions with a few of the other sites and try getting an alternate route printed out just in case.

Pay attention to the mileage and reset your odometer as you complete each step so you will know if you have traveled past a designated turn. Leave yourself plenty of time to make it to your destination, since construction, accidents and weather may complicate your trip.

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