Avoid distractions on the roads this long weekend
Sydney, Australia – Thursday, 21 April 2016 — Garmin Australia today announced the new Garmin Drive™ product line – Garmin Drive™, Garmin DriveSmart™, Garmin DriveAssist™ and Garmin DriveLuxe™ – easy-to-use portable navigation devices (PNDs) specifically designed to help increase driver awareness. The addition of smart notifications, which display calls, text messages and app notifications on the navigation screen, as well as voice-activated navigation and Bluetooth® wireless technology for hands-free calling, allows drivers to keep both hands safely on the wheel.
Using a mobile phone whilst driving is highly distracting and increases your risk of a crash four-fold.
Crash data from the NSW Centre for Road Safety showed that from 2010 to 2014 there were 236 crashes where hand-held mobile phone use by drivers was identified as a contributing factor; this included seven fatal crashes and 116 injury crashes. Further, from July 2014 to June 2015, more than 35,300 fines were issued to drivers in NSW for using hand-held mobile phones, showing the problem is still prevalent. Because of this safety concern, illegal use of a mobile phone is now included in double demerit points schemes across many states, including NSW, ACT and WA, with double demerit points being enforced this ANZAC long weekend.
“We all know that using your mobile phone in your car is extremely unsafe, yet many drivers continue to use their mobile phones while driving,” said Adam Howarth, Garmin Australasia’s recently appointed General Manager.
“With the new DriveSmart, DriveAssist and DriveLuxe PNDs, drivers can now view calls, text messages and app notifications on the navigation screen, encouraging drivers to keep their hands off their phones and safely on the wheel.
“Across the entire Garmin Drive lineup, driver awareness features that are typically only seen in luxury vehicles are now accessible as an aftermarket solution for all drivers. This includes warnings for upcoming sharp curves, railroad or animal crossings, alerts for users driving the wrong-way on a one-way street and more.”
Drivers also receive red light and speed camera alerts as well as vital timesaving traffic information with fast-approaching traffic jam notifications. For longer routes, a fatigue warning alert suggests potential break times and available rest areas or places to stop.
Garmin Drive
In addition to the new driver awareness features, Garmin Drive includes preloaded data from Foursquare® POIs, adding millions of popular stores, restaurants and more. Various models offer options for lifetime maps and traffic updates. Other features designed to simplify navigation include Garmin Real Directions™, which guides drivers using recognisable landmarks, buildings and traffic lights; and Easy Route Shaping that lets drivers modify a route to include preferred cities or roads by touching the navigation screen.
Garmin DriveSmart
The Garmin DriveSmart boasts all of the features from Garmin Drive and adds customisable smart notifications that allow drivers to display calls, text messages and app notifications on the navigation screen. Voice-activated navigation and Bluetooth® wireless technology for hands-free calling allow drivers to keep both hands safely on the wheel. Garmin DriveSmart can also access real-time services such as live traffic and weather radar through the Smartphone Link app.
Garmin DriveAssist
Garmin DriveAssist builds on the Garmin DriveSmart and includes a built-in dash cam to serve as an eyewitness. The device continually records and automatically saves video footage on impact with the included microSD card. The integrated camera brings in more advanced driver awareness alerts, such as the Forward Collision and Lane Departure Warnings. Additionally, Garmin DriveAssist integrates the new “Go” Alert, a camera-assisted feature that notifies distracted drivers when traffic ahead of their vehicle begins to move. As drivers approach select destinations, Garmin Real Vision™ unveils a camera view on the screen of the device and an arrow points out the specific destination.
Garmin DriveLuxe
The stylish Garmin DriveLuxe is an impressive premium navigator housed in a beautiful forged metal design. Powered with a sleek magnetic mount, the Garmin DriveLuxe delivers innovative navigation features and includes all the smart notification and real-time traffic services as the DriveSmart and DriveAssist models.
All Garmin Drive devices can be paired with the Garmin BC™ 30 Wireless Backup Camera (sold separately) to easily see behind a vehicle when moving in reverse. Garmin Drive devices may also be paired with the new Garmin babyCam™ in-vehicle video monitor (sold separately, or bundled with Garmin Drive 50 LM) to view backseat passengers on the navigation screen.
Availability and RRP
Product is available now and the Recommended Retail Prices are:
Garmin Drive
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Garmin Drive 50 LM – $199
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Garmin Drive 50 LMT – $249
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Garmin Drive 50 LM + BabyCam – $479
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Garmin Drive 60 LM – $249
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Garmin Drive 60 LMT – $299
Garmin DriveSmart
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Garmin DriveSmart 50 LMT – $279
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Garmin DriveSmart 60 LMT – $329
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Garmin DriveSmart 70 LMT – $429
Garmin DriveAssist
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Garmin DriveAssist 50 LMT, GPS – $449
Garmin DriveLuxe
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Garmin DriveLuxe 50 AUNZ LMT, GPS – $499
The Garmin Drive product line is the latest from Garmin’s consumer automotive segment, the leading worldwide provider of portable navigation devices for automobiles, motorcycles and trucks. Garmin’s user-friendly navigation solutions have innovative features that provide time- and fuel-saving benefits to meet the demands of everyday driving.
For decades, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine and outdoor recreation. For more information, visit www.garmin.com.au or http://facebook.com/garminau.
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For more information please contact
Rebecca Collins or Susin Thoroughgood
eckfactor
Phone: +61 2 8570 5555
Email: rebecca@eckfactor.com / susin@eckfactor.com
About Garmin International Inc. Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN). Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Garmin is a registered trademark and Garmin Drive, Garmin DriveSmart, Garmin DriveAssist, Garmin DriveLuxe, Garmin Real Vision, BC, Garmin Real Directions and Garmin babyCam are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. HD Radio Technology manufactured under license from iBiquity Digital Corporation. U.S. and foreign patents. HD Radio™ and the HD and HD Digital Traffic logos are proprietary trademarks of iBiquity Digital corporation. Foursquare® and the Foursquare® logo are registered trademarks of Foursquare Labs, Inc. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Garmin is under license.
All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Notice on Forward-Looking Statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2014, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at http://www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
