Satnav errors interest me because they are an example of the virtual world influencing behaviour in the real world -- sometime radically -- and encouraging people to doubt the evidence of their own eyes. Sometimes however an error becomes endemic and frequent enough for the authorities to take action and actively alert people to ignore the evidence of their own satnavs.
"A30 IGNORE SATNAV"
Tuesday 9 July 2013
Wednesday 18 November 2009
Not a satnav error...
81-year-old Australian man becomes lost driving to the shops, ends up almost 600km away.
"...He rejected a suggestion to get a satellite navigation system.
'Why would you want one of those? You can't get lost. There is no fun in that.'"
"...He rejected a suggestion to get a satellite navigation system.
'Why would you want one of those? You can't get lost. There is no fun in that.'"
Thursday 28 May 2009
Avoid Aberystwyth, Wolverhampton and London
Why? Because they're the cities where drivers (mainly men of course) amuse themselves most by challenging their satnavs to a duel.
Monday 18 May 2009
Life without SatNav
James May issues his 6-Point SatNav Elimination Plan.
"I used to champion satnav, but I've come to realise that it's turning people into morons. Satnav is nothing more than a navigational aid, but I now find myself working with people who treat it as an autopilot, swerve mindlessly on roundabouts and then look hurt when they end up in a supermarket car park.
"The problem with satnav, and especially for someone like me, for whom Britain is conceptually upside down and who has no innate sense of direction, is that it doesn't teach you anything. Following a satnav is like looking at a map down a bog-roll tube, and gives no sense of where Upper Chodford is in relation to the rest of the world."
"I used to champion satnav, but I've come to realise that it's turning people into morons. Satnav is nothing more than a navigational aid, but I now find myself working with people who treat it as an autopilot, swerve mindlessly on roundabouts and then look hurt when they end up in a supermarket car park.
"The problem with satnav, and especially for someone like me, for whom Britain is conceptually upside down and who has no innate sense of direction, is that it doesn't teach you anything. Following a satnav is like looking at a map down a bog-roll tube, and gives no sense of where Upper Chodford is in relation to the rest of the world."
Thursday 30 April 2009
SatNav - Not Just For Errors
Lest it be thought I'm not a fan of satnav systems:
Navteq survey finds that satnav systems make drivers 12% more fuel-efficient
And they're fun too!
Navteq survey finds that satnav systems make drivers 12% more fuel-efficient
And they're fun too!
Wednesday 25 March 2009
Man follows satnav to edge of a precipice
BMW driver in West Yorkshire emulates my example and for his sins gets charged with driving without due care and attention. A better charge would be "undue trust and inappropriate perseverence".
BBC Video report
BBC Video report
UK Satnav GPS black spots identifed
UK political party the Liberal Democrats has published a list of the worst locations in the country for satnav errors.
Fom the Telegraph:
"In 2006, the Government promised to update the law on satnav systems.
"It promised to ensure that the devices did not encourage "rat-running" or give illegal advice to the user.
"But, according to Mr Baker, nothing has been done. 'The rise in the use of satnav devices has led to a doubling of the number of large vehicles hitting rail bridges.
"'This has the potential to be extremely dangerous. The Government must act to make satnav devices safer for large vehicles.
"'The Government promised to look at this problem over two years ago, but has completely failed to act,'" he added."
Not really surprising -- it's hard to see what could be done to fix this.
Fom the Telegraph:
"In 2006, the Government promised to update the law on satnav systems.
"It promised to ensure that the devices did not encourage "rat-running" or give illegal advice to the user.
"But, according to Mr Baker, nothing has been done. 'The rise in the use of satnav devices has led to a doubling of the number of large vehicles hitting rail bridges.
"'This has the potential to be extremely dangerous. The Government must act to make satnav devices safer for large vehicles.
"'The Government promised to look at this problem over two years ago, but has completely failed to act,'" he added."
Not really surprising -- it's hard to see what could be done to fix this.
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