Rational Ignorance of GPS

    Increasing reliance on technology has reduced the necessity of maps, and general knowledge of roads. Now, it is so much easier to type your destination into a maps app. This way, you get the most direct and efficient route without having to draw up the plan yourself. Whenever I go on an extensive road trip, I pay little attention to routes, tolls, and general stops, as google maps takes all of these into account.

    GPS now allows the modern driver to be rationally ignorant. The comparative cost of creating travel plans by choosing routes is much higher than just relying on the GPS to tell you where to go, and even offers safety benefits. Knowledge of roads and their interconnection is virtually useless in the presence of navigation apps. This is similar to elected officials. They are aware of the legislation for their constituents, and make decisions allowing the voter to remain rationally ignorant, as individual knowledge of legislation carries little weight when you are not the one making the decision. The GPS acts at the legislative official when we are on the road. It calculates the route so we don't have to.