GPS Nav Systems Go ‘I, Robot’ in Britain
Technology’s not perfect. GPS navigational technology in Britain appears to be far from perfect, as drivers are frequently reporting crashes while following the directions offered to them by the device.
This happens so much so, that in some areas, signs have been erected to warn drivers to ignore their nav system’s directions. Something Michael could have used in an episode of The Office.
Reports have surfaced in New York and London of people following the nav system’s directions right onto train tracks – the woman’s car in London was actually hit by a train. The woman was reported saying, “I put my complete trust in the sat nav and it led me right into the path of a speeding train.
Comments
Roland M
I'm continually amazed at people's lost grasp of reality and total lack of common sense! Does the device actually have to tell you to pull your head out of your a**? In the words of the great Barry Switzer, "hell, damn crap" people!!!
DOWNSHIFTER
Well, if the woman in London was hit by a train that was going to where she was trying to get to, maybe the Sat/Nav system was right.
Jeb
I've been spoofed by bad addresses and out of date maps. I've also gotten ahead of the device in some city driving. Having said that, I LOVE my nav systems (yes, plural...a true GPS receiver/PDA setup and my LG VX9900's cell-assisted GPS, which does in fact receive and localize on GPS signals), and have relied on GPS to get me where I need to go on dozens of occasions. Stories like the ones in Britain aren't really an indictment on the technology as much as on the reason, attentiveness, and skills of the drivers.
jim
Those people would be hell on cruise control
monsterlib
let evolution runs it course. satnav's for everyone!
X3 SoB
I'm sorta amused by my nav system which frequently tells me "If possible make a legal U-turn", and tells me when I reach a destination: "You have Arrived!" Well yes, but I don't need to be validated by a machine. It's really more of a toy.
mbslrm
Why do these stories only come out of Britain?
hwyhobo
I was rather amused when my nav started insisting that I make a sharp right turn into the Tampa Bay off the bridge from St. Petersburg to Sarasota.
Scott
What happened to our sense of direction? How hard is it look around you and get your bearings? And if you are lost, use map! Don't listen to a computer that tells you to turn right when the road doesn't go that way.
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