UK drivers prefer satnav with Geordie accent

Almost half of all British drivers would prefer their satellite navigation system to have a Geordie accent, a survey has found.

The poll of more than 2,000 motorists from across the country by The Co-operative Insurance saw the Bolton accent gain second place with 21 per cent of the vote followed by Yorkshire.

A traditional Cockney accent was rated the fourth most popular accent for a satnav with 12 per cent of the vote while Liverpudlian and Birmingham dialects gained five and two per cent respectively.

David Neave, director of general insurance at The Co-operative Insurance said drivers used to expect their satnavs to speak Queens English but now want more choice of accents.

"As long as the regional accent is easy to understand and concise, I don’t see why it shouldn’t be considered for future production in satnav systems," he added.

Navman has recently launched a new range of satnavs that give prominent buildings 3D dimensions to make it easier for motorists to identify landmarks while driving.