Dodgy Sat-nav Instructions Leaving Drivers In Deep Trouble

Many of us still like to use a good old fashioned map when travelling. There can be disadvantages, however, it is difficult to read a map when driving, not to mention illegal. So more people are turning to technology to help them get around and buying sat nav machines for their cars.

Unfortunately, though as many people find out sometimes the instructions are a little vague, especially where the information about a particular area is sparse.

Faulty sat-nav instructions are driving motorists into deep trouble in a small Somerset village, although the street name - Brook End - should have provided them with a clue.

The trouble began when a main road in the village of Sherston was cut off for roadworks, and sat-navs redirected motorists to the village ford.

Known as the Splash, the ford is passable to high vehicles when it is low but liable to flood most vehicles for the rest of the year. It is guarded by Deep Water signs. Undeterred, dozens of motorists have come to a watery halt in the river.

So many motorists have had to be rescued after their vehicles became flooded that villagers have begun charging them £25 for a tow out.

"Before the road closure there was one a week but now we're getting one or two a day," said a local councillor, who lives next to the ford.

"When the driver's car conks out he looks stunned and when you ask him what happened he says, 'My sat-nav told me it was this way.' There are signs warning of water but the fools just plough on regardless."

It just goes to show that all the fancy technology in the world cannot help you if you do  not read the road. It seems too many people are now relying on their sat-nav systems to get them out of trouble without bothering to look at what is up ahead.

If you would like to know more about satellite navigation systems why not ask AnswerBank Technology.