Tipp of the Week-Travel Apps
Hello, Tipp City! Marc the Cop here,
Being a driver means I hit the road often. My commute to the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy is about 90 miles a day.
Susan and I also travel to Columbus to see our daughter, and we make a few trips a year to our home in Florida.
With all this travel, we like to use travel navigation apps on our smartphones.
Now I am a child of the 1900’s. When, as a traveler, you had to use these big paper maps. Those maps used to be cleverly folded or come in a big book like an atlas. In an era where smartphones have replaced folded paper maps, navigation apps such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze have become indispensable tools for travelers.
Waze is my favorite. Sometimes Waze takes you on routes that you don’t necessarily want to take, but remember: getting there is half the fun.
Whether commuting to work, exploring new cities, or avoiding traffic snarls, these apps are designed to make life easier. Yet, experts caution that their convenience comes with responsibility. Misused, they can lead to safety hazards, legal trouble, and even poor travel experiences.
Plan Ahead: Before starting the car, drivers are encouraged to input their destination and review the route. This prevents fumbling with the phone mid-drive—a distraction that could lead to accidents. Reviewing alternate routes in advance can also help avoid unexpected detours.
Don’t Rely Blindly: Navigation apps aren’t flawless. Map data may lag behind real-time changes such as road closures, construction zones, or private roads. Authorities advise motorists to keep an eye on official signage and use common sense, rather than following directions into unsafe or restricted areas.
Voice Guidance: Hands-free features like voice prompts allow drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Many apps integrate with car infotainment systems, making it safer to receive turn-by-turn directions.
Don’t Text and Drive: Typing addresses or adjusting settings while in motion is one of the leading causes of distracted driving. Several states have enacted strict “hands-free” laws, meaning drivers caught holding their phones risk fines or points on their licenses.
Stay Updated: Most navigation apps regularly update traffic conditions, speed limits, and points of interest. Keeping the app and your phone’s software current ensures more accurate guidance.
Don’t forget about Privacy: Many apps track location history and share driving data. Users concerned about digital footprints should review privacy settings and consider disabling location tracking when not in use.
Use in Combination: Navigation apps work best when paired with awareness of one’s surroundings. A glance at road signs, mile markers, and landmarks provides reassurance that the app’s instructions match reality.
Don’t Depend on Signal Alone: Rural areas or tunnels can cause apps to lose GPS signals. Downloading offline maps before a trip is a recommended safeguard, particularly when traveling in remote regions.
Navigation apps have revolutionized how we travel, but they should be seen as tools—not infallible guides. Safe driving, situational awareness, and a measure of skepticism remain the cornerstones of responsible road travel in the digital age. When traveling, I suggest keeping an updated map handy in the car as a backup.
Remember the 9 PM routine! The 9 PM routine is a nightly reminder for residents to remove valuables from their vehicles, lock their vehicle doors, secure their residences, turn on exterior lights, and activate all alarms and security systems.
That is all for this week! Please be safe and care for one another.
I'll see you in church on Sunday!
Sgt. Marc Basye (Ret.)
Do you have a suggestion for the Tip of the Week? Your input is valuable to us. You can email me at Marcthecop@tippgazette.com! The opinions and statements in this column are those of the author, who is not affiliated with any law enforcement agency. This column is for entertainment purposes only. Persons referred to may be fictional for comedic purposes only.
