Are you lost without your phone?

Not in a metaphorical sense, but literally.

The general public has become so reliant on digital satnavs that more and more people are finding themselves lost without access to Google Maps.

That’s according to the Mountain Rescue England and Wales group, who have published figures highlighting the number of people that have required call-outs because their phone died or they lost service.

A hiker checking GPS position on Hindscarth Edge with Dale Head in the distance, English Lake District, UK. Image: Izel Photography / Alamy. 21 March 2015

Editor of completecar.ie Shane O’Donoghue told Lunchtime Live that he uses the technology to help predict traffic on the roads.

“I don’t quite go to the stage of turn on Google Maps every single time I get in the car,” he said.

“But actually, even on roads I know, I use it just to see if the traffic’s bad.

“I drive a lot abroad and it’s brilliant for that, of course.

“When you’re out of your own comfort zone away from roads it’s absolutely phenomenal of course.”

Mr O’Dononghue said maybe our over-reliance comes from a “gamification of mapping”.

You can listen back to the full interview here:

Main image: Person hand with iPhone displaying Google maps GPS navigator on streets of Tokyo, Japan. Image: Oleksiy Maksymenko Photography / Alamy. 28 March 2014