End of the road for those satnav trips to nowhere: Councils given new powers to reclassify unsuitable routes

By
Ray Massey

Last updated at 12:04 AM on 6th January 2012

Thousands of roads are to be reclassified as too dangerous to prevent fresh Satnav chaos in the countryside.

From April, ministers will hand councils the new powers to try and prevent crashes and traffic jams on unsuitable routes.

Since the explosion in Satnav sales, hundreds of villages and country roads have been dogged by lorries and car drivers who follow their in car computer’s guidance to the letter.

Satellite navigation systems will now tell drivers if the road is unsuitable for lorries

Satellite navigation systems will now tell drivers if the road is unsuitable for lorries

This means they often end up stuck in cul-de-sacs or in town or village centres that are unsuitable for large vehicles.

Town halls will no longer have to apply each time to Whitehall for permission to reclassify routes. The new information will be passed on to the Satnav firms to update their software.

To ram home the message, Transport Minister Norman Baker is to host a special Government  ‘sat nav summit’ in early March aimed at ending the misery caused when lorry and car drivers blindly  follow out-of-date directions from their satnavs.

Roads which were considered major routes decades ago may now be in busy built up villages and towns, said a Department of Transport spokesman.

Transport minister Mr Baker said: ‘Out-of-date directions mean misdirected traffic – a scourge of local communities. It is vital highway authorities, mapping companies and satnav manufacturers work more closely together to provide drivers with accurate, up-to-date information on traffic restrictions such as narrow roads or low bridges.

This will help prevent huge lorries from being sent down inappropriate roads and ensure motorists are given the best possible directions.’

The changes will stop satnav systems sending lorries on shortcuts down unsuitable country lanes

The changes will stop satnav systems sending lorries on shortcuts down unsuitable country lanes

Officials say the problem is exacerbated by motorists who fail to update their own satnav maps, either because they forget or are unaware they can do so.

But the AA warned that the measures to reclassify roads could lead to a ‘mismatch’ of road types from one county to another which will be  ‘confusing’ for satnav mapping companies and drivers alike.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists said better signs and ‘a good map’ would help more.

IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig said: ‘While we welcome the ‘Satnav Summit’, high quality and consistent signposting will always be the best way to ensure that drivers get the information they require when and where they need it most.’

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
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i have had a medion wide screen navigation system for few years now for my lorry,,and never once have i had problems with it,,yes it sometimes sends you to places were you just cant go ,but you wouldnt put your hand in fire if someone told you ,would you ? if you dont trust it try another route then it corrects itself and your on your way ,,seeing these people that drive into rivers and swamps with there cars is just madness ,how thick can you get.

Nimby pops up in mind.

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