Sorry SS, but 'tongue in cheek' like that is for AG. And that quoted reply was beyond tongue in cheek.
Boguing, I have been off air this evening due to thunderstorms over here.
So I agree and withdraw the response.
But it gave me the time to fully think about it and realise why my rather knee jerk response was as it was.
The fact is that I hate the idea of anyone using a phone in a car, no matter what for.
The statistics show how dangerous they can be:
"According to the latest Reported Road Casualties Great Britain (2022), 22 people were killed and 674 injured in road traffic collisions where a driver using a mobile phone was considered to be a contributory factor.
Further analysis of the data shows that 4,188 injuries were recorded where there was a ‘distraction in vehicle’, where a mobile device could potentially have played a factor in the collision."
I even hate the idea of anyone using a touch screen, even when built into a car, for the simple reason that having to touch the screen involves taking one's eyes off the road, and whatever that person is doing, they are being distracted from the job of driving.
Even with my TomTom I will not touch the screen unless I am off the road and safe to do so.
Back in 1975/6 I was a professional road user. My area was the whole of the south-west of England and south east Wales. I drove all day long using whatever anyone ever used, maps, lists of places en route and simply asking directions.
All sat-navs and apps on phones do is simplify what any sane person can do with a map. And that includes getting around an obstruction. Which is why I always carry a map in the car.
People do not "need" sat-navs and mobile phone apps, they just "like" them.
So, rant over.