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Call For Changes To Sat Nav Route After Repeated Disruption
Article by: rob brady
Date: 27 Sep 2012
Local residents of Stobo, Scotland have called for sat nav companies to remove a short-cut after HGVs have repeatedly followed the route, leading to widespread disruption and compromising the road's safety.
The short-cut, which navigates travellers down the B712, is frequently used by HGVs carrying heavy loads of timber, as well as by lorries used to make large supermarket deliveries.
According to reports, the road is not designed for use by large vehicles such as these, with many fearing that continued exposure to high volumes of this kind of traffic will result in safety levels being compromised.
Local councillor, Catriona Bhatia, described the road as "unsuitable" for such traffic and explained the route encompasses "bridges that are just not capable of handling HGVs".
She also added that the traffic was cutting up the verges at the side of the road, leading to the overall road surface deteriorating. As a popular and designated cycle route, the changes to the road's traffic level also have an impact on one of the most vulnerable road users.
Locals have previously submitted requests for removal of the route, but to no avail.
Councillor Bhatia was keen to stress this does not spell defeat however, with plans to "go back to the council and see what else can be done" underway.
Source
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| Comments
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 Posted by Sproing on Fri Sep 28, 2012 10:19 am |
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Rather than getting all satnav makers to change their data — including, presumably, magically updating old devices where the owner doesn't want to pay for a map update — would it not be easier to get a width and/or weight restriction put on the road?
Wouldn't guard against drivers blindly following the satnav and ignoring the signs, of course, but the HGV traffic would soon reduce as long as the restrictions were actually enforced.
And, of course, HGV drivers who were actually using HGV satnavs would be routed differently once their maps got updated. (As for those using car satnavs — well, it should probably be a legal requirement for HGV drivers to use HGV satnavs, no?)
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| Posted by M8TJT on Fri Sep 28, 2012 10:24 am |
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| Sproing Wrote: | | well, it should probably be a legal requirement for HGV drivers to use HGV satnavs, no?) |
No. As the use of satnavs is optional, how can you make it an enforceable law? Anyway, it will still depend on the map makers getting it right, which they so often don't. "Look out of the big window in front of you" should be enforceable by law. Oh, it is already. 
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| Posted by Sproing on Fri Sep 28, 2012 10:41 am |
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| M8TJT Wrote: | | Sproing Wrote: | | well, it should probably be a legal requirement for HGV drivers to use HGV satnavs, no?) |
No. As the use of satnavs is optional, how can you make it an enforceable law? Anyway, it will still depend on the map makers getting it right, which they so often don't. "Look out of the big window in front of you" should be enforceable by law. Oh, it is already. |
Badly phrased by me, I think — what I meant was that, if an HGV driver is going to use a satnav, it should be able to cope with HGV restrictions and route accordingly.
No need for an overly prescriptive law — but if you end up stuck between two buildings and you're found to be following a satnav that's in car mode, then that's definitely "without due care and attention" at the very least. Mind you, as you say, it already is 
Of course, the manufacturers could make the HGV modes a bit easier to get. Why isn't it available as an optional in-app purchase for TomTom's iPhone app, for example? Why do drivers need special devices that aren't even on sale through places like Halfords, when the difference is just software?
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| Posted by JockTamsonsBairn on Fri Sep 28, 2012 12:15 pm |
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Surely these drivers must be ignoring existing width/weight restrictions to follow these routes? Are these not legally binding i.e. if you wedge your truck between 2 houses, won't you be charged with "driving without due care", as well as you (or your insurance) being liable for any repairs?
Jock
TomTom Go 940 LIVE (9.510, Europe v915.5074 on SD & 8.371, WCE v875.3613 on board) |
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| Posted by andy_fy8 on Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:10 pm |
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Have just looked at both ends of the B712 on Google maps and there do not seem to be any width or weight restrictions signposted.
Unfortunately unless the council imposes some, then lorries will continue to use the road. They could always put up the "no satnav" sign but, having driven in a car along roads that have this sign, they are definitely physically unsuitable for trucks, and the sign will lose impact if it is overused.
To suggest that Stobo should be wiped off satnavs, would just impact on friends and relatives of Stobo residents wanting to visit the village. As well as the residents themselves, who would be "driving over fields" until they reach a road that is in the satnav.
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