And it's not just a case of unthinkingly obeying a machine. Satnavs are now so often out of date that a government summit has been called for March to try to stem an acute problem.
Local transport minister Norman Baker believes it's now time to end the huge problems caused by satnavs mis-directing car and lorry drivers onto entirely inappropriate parts of the road network, and causing mayhem in the process.
Despite the media carrying many articles about lorry drivers driving into places such as woodland - or even off the edge of a cliff - it's often no fault of drivers who may have no knowledge of the area they're in and who are forced to rely on the out-of-date or incomplete information displayed by their satnavs.
Mr Baker wants highway authorities, mapping providers and satnav manufacturers to work more closely to ensure that local council road alterations are registered with satnavs far more speedily than the months it now often takes.
Mr Baker, the Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes, said: 'This will help prevent huge lorries from being sent down inappropriate roads and ensure motorists are given the best possible directions.'
The summit will take place around a month before local authorities gain important new powers to decide how their roads appear on maps - helping them to direct traffic better. Under the powers, local councils will be able to ensure that A roads can be designated where the councils wants the traffic to flow, without having to gain Whitehall approval.
Up to twelve million drivers now use cars fitted with the technology in place of traditional paper maps, with many mobile phones also now featuring map technology.
Residents in rural communities have also complained cars are often led down narrow roads or encouraged to drive through sleepy villages in pursuit of a short-cut.
Computer Says No: Summit to Address Satnav 'Slavery'
