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."

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!

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

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.

Lost in California

"Garmin sells a simple and reliable device. Unfortunately, it doesn't relieve you of the responsibility for using your brain."

CNET's Charles Cooper tells a familiar tale
.

Heavy Trucks Arbitraging the Country Lane System Suffer the Fate of All Short Sellers

Cotswold villagers have finally lost patience with truck drivers arbitraging maps using satnav to exploit short cuts through country lanes and are
banning them from the area.

Cornish village councillors take an enlightened approach

Residents of a Cornish village have released a map of satnav-vulnerable trouble spots which lorry drivers can download to update their databases.

BBC News video link