Hours spent traversing unknown roads and arguments with the passengers about which direction to take could become a thing of the past for motorists who purchase a satellite navigation system.
There is surely nothing worse than loading the car for a lovely little road trip only for it to descend into frustration and anger as the road atlas proves too difficult to navigate.
Well this situation may not have to rear its ugly head again with the assurance that comes with a sat nav.
And new research from Sheilas' Wheels has highlighted the seriousness of the problem among British drivers.
The study showed males drive an average of 276 'lost' miles every year, as they attempt to navigate their way without having a clue where they are.
Women, on the other hand, spend around 256 miles every year not knowing how to get to their intended destination.
More than a quarter of males wait at least half an hour before asking for directions, while 12 per cent of stubborn blokes refuse to enquire as to their whereabouts at all.
This amount of lost time could potentially be costing fellas as much as £2,000 in petrol fees across their lifetime.
Jacky Brown at Sheilas' Wheels car insurance said: "Lost miles can add up and become costly so if you're looking to save on petrol (and the pennies) we suggest you plan and prepare your route well in advance."
However, a sat nav would mean hardly any planning is required at all, as drivers will only need to punch a few details in to the devices before hitting the road - safe in the knowledge they will be arriving where they are aiming to go, on time and in a relaxed mood.
Indeed, without the use of a sat nav, long excursions can become tiresome and even hostile, as evidenced by Boosh News, which stated: "With busy roads, your partner shouting at you telling you you're going the wrong way and the kids messing about in the back, car journeys can become stressful, tiresome and joyless."
And a sat nav could also make trips fun for drivers and families as many celebrities have signed up to provide voiceovers for the gadgets.
Flash Gordon star and loud-mouthed extrovert Brian Blessed has lent his sizeable bellows to the machines, the Telegraph reports.
The star can be heard turning some of his famous catchphrases into humorous driving instructions.
Twisting a number of phrases from the 1980 film, Blessed now booms "Drive, Hawkmen, drive", as opposed to "Dive, my Hawkmen, dive" and he hollers "Gordon's arrived" rather than the oft-repeated line "Gordon's alive".
Other comedy voices available for the products include Darth Vader from the Star Wars franchise and the bumbling Homer Simpson from The Simpsons.
So, while a journey taken without a sat nav can descend into mood swings, panic and maybe even violence, one inclusive of the tools would ensure a smooth, stress-free getaway that gets a trip off on the perfect footing and might even add a dash of light entertainment.
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