Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I'd settle for just a speedometer and speed limit posting. That feature alone seems to make a Garmin look worthwhile to save on a speeding ticket.

Gee, if only the car had some way of indicating your speed and if only someone would post signs telling you the speed limit...

Oh wait, they already do!! Doh! :rolleyes:

If you goal is to avoid tickets, no gadget needed. Just go with the flow of traffic and you needn't worry. (Unless you're living in Wahzoo City, AL or doing something else that's begging to get you pulled over like loud exhaust, too-dark window tint, etc.)
 
Overall, I trust Google Maps more than Apple Maps. Google is more accurate, especially with POI's. Also, Google has more info (that is also more accurate) about POI's than Apple does. The only time I use Apple Maps is if my battery is low and I have no charger, because Apple Maps seems to use less battery life.
 
As I'll be driving soon and am aiming to be as safe as possible
If you're going to be safe as possible then get your driving skills down first before you start worrying about using GPS and other aids as has been suggested many times in this thread.

Is Apple Maps okay to use for someone new to driving that needs the guidance or is it still confusing locations?
Sure it's ok. Every solution could be ok for a new driver. It really doesn't matter how you subdivide drivers. Each has to select their preferred nav solution. There isn't one solution that works best for everyone no matter what the subcategory. No nav solution is 100% so if you're counting on anything to never make mistakes so you don't have to make judgment calls then you're not going to find anything. Some areas are better than others as far as map data is concerned.

As a test, I tried getting directions to a nearby outlet and based on the direction of the car in the image it seems to be making me turn into oncoming traffic?
If you're going to interpret the navigation guide that literally then you shouldn't use anything. All the arrow does is tell you to turn left. It's not telling you to get in a specific lane. Yes, there are nav solutions that will tell you which lane you need to be in but, again, as pointed out many times in this thread a driver still has to use sound judgement. You don't have to go to a standalone GPS unit for lane guidance. There are nav apps that provide this as well if desired.
 
I'd only use it with a passenger as a copilot. Most navigation systems occasionally tell you to exit or turn with very little warning, and as a new driver you may end up making an improper lane change or something along those lines because of that. Best to just learn you're routes before hand

And regarding speed limits... Just follow the pace of traffic and you'll be fine. No need to be nuts about keeping it at 65 on the dot. If no ones around, just keep it <10mph over and no one will bother to give you a ticket. Hell, in my experience, most jersey cops don't give a crap about anything under 80mph (in 65 zones)
 
In New Jersey you will lose your license for a traffic infraction within one year, so a new driver wants to drive within the spirit and letter of the law.

Not to mention the restricted license and new driver badge and insurance.

And in spite if all cops can and will pull you over even in a pack of cars, you don't want to be that one.
 
I'm not sure if you're serious or not.

As a driver, it's your responsibility to know what lane to be in, what speed to be going etc. There's plenty of road markings and signs to inform you.

Next you'll be blaming your sat nav for not telling you a traffic light was on red or that you needed to change into 2nd gear.

To be honest, it sounds like you probably shouldn't be on the road at all.

Pfff, this is America. I'd be good money that he's driving an automatic ;)

I'm probably just asking for too much out of a GPS. Those features didn't look appealing to me until I saw they've been on the Garmin for years.

I don't care about the lane feature but the speed limit alerts could be helpful.

If only there were signs posted on the side of the road that told you what the speed limit was :rolleyes:

People rely too much on their GPS. They're a great tool, and I use one a lot when traveling, but I rarely use my car's navigation when driving within St. Louis because over the years, I've learned these streets and where everything is, and have built up a pretty good sense of direction. I do use it sometimes when going somewhere new, in a part of the area I haven't been. But you shouldn't be relying on GPS to get you to work, to the grocery store, to the mall, places you go all the time. You don't need to use GPS to route you to every place you want to go, because if you start relying too much on GPS, if your GPS (or your phone) ever breaks, you'll have no idea how to get home.

As a new driver, the best thing you can do is learn the streets of your home city and build up a good sense of direction. You should be able to be dropped on just about any street corner in the city you live in and find your way home without GPS or maps because you know where all the main roads and interstates go, and can read street signs and know if you want to go north, south, east or west from your current position. If you just have a GPS barking orders at you, you'll never learn.
 
Quite frankly - I truly believe every GPS out there to be complete and utter crap compared to good ol' knowledge. Nothing beats checking your route ahead of time and getting a feel for the areas you'll be in. Comes in handy if you hit accidents, construction, etc, and need to reroute. Always worth having maps too. Never know - you could drop your phone and break it. Then you are SoL.

People put way too much faith into their silly electronic devices. And this is coming from a mid-20s guy.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.