Intranetics Motoring News Service

Village posts ignore satnav sign

30th August 2007 | BACK     PRINT

Many satnav users testify that they are a blessing, helping them to navigate without the hassle of an oversized map that can take one's eyes off the road. However, most of us chuckle at the stories where unfortunate drivers have been directed up the wrong road, or into a river or up a tree by their device, showing that these hi-tech marvels have a fallible nature.

But it seems that one village can't see the funny side, with a local council putting up signs telling drivers to ignore their satnavs, as traffic chaos has ensued due to heavy goods vehicles travelling through. Vale of Glamorgan Council in sleepy south Wales has made the decision and become the first authority to visually advise drivers that their satnavs may not be giving them the best advice on this occasion.

A spokesperson for the council's highways department said: "The proliferation of satellite navigation aids used in heavy goods vehicles and their over-reliance, especially by overseas drivers, has presented itself as a problem within the Vale of Glamorgan."

"A number of these drivers are using routes that are clearly signed as unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles."

"They are continuing with their journey only to find, after travelling some distance, they cannot proceed any further."

"Manoeuvring becomes difficult and the vehicle eventually blocks the road for a significant period of time."

And it seems that council officials are not the only ones to be irked by this phenomenon of modern technology. One local resident, 62-year-old Bill Clay, reminisced about the time a "Spanish chap" became ensnared on the village road for more than two hours. Speaking to the Western Mail, he expressed his sympathy for foreign drivers who are unable to read the road signs and therefore rely heavily on their satnavs. He added that lorries on the road are larger these days - a factor that would no doubt be a serious consideration for those aiming to navigate a narrow lane.

However, in response to this story, an editorial in Computing magazine has suggested that drivers should use satnav systems as an augmentation to their existing senses, including common sense, rather than a replacement for them. The writer urges drivers to have the same awareness and road wisdom as they would exercise if they were using a road atlas, as satnavs are not capable of taking decisions for the person behind the wheel.

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