Sat Nav Blamed As Truck Becomes Wedged in Penzance

[RobBrady]

In another supposed sat nav blunder, a truck was left wedged between a building and a wall for more than an hour.

The incident, which occurred in Penzance, saw the truck driver caught between a rock and a hard place as the owner of the property and the truck's crew worked to free to vehicle.

PCSO Mark Richards, one of the attending officers on the scene, explained the vehicle had become wedged between a stone wall and a porch which was being constructed on a new property in the road.

Reports suggest the driver was following GPS directions from his sat nav at the time of the incident - leading to speculation that another navigational blunder was to blame.

The story is reminiscent of an event which occurred in Bristol earlier this year whereby a lorry driver was stuck between two houses for more than three hours; a situation which was also blamed on sat nav directions.

Whilst sat navs are considered a vital tool for today's drivers there are many who suggest over-reliance on them can lead to poor decisions.

The first ever sat nav summit, which was held by the government this March, looked at ways to improve current mapping whilst drivers are continually advised to supplement the use of such devices with their own evaluation of roads to prevent events such as those mentioned above.

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Robert Brady

[GerryC]

Sometimes you could say that he didn't read a sign etc but just looking at that opening should make it obvious that a truck won't get down there.

Streetview shows a car practically filling the gap between buildings.

Of course, if it was showing this as a through route instead of going to the Western Promenade Rd / Morrab Rd junction and turning there, the satnav mapping IS to blame regardless of vehicle type.

Gerry

[IanS100]

[Guivre46]

I watch the Stobart programme on TV, it looks like they all use satnavs designed for car navigation. If this was a proper trucker version, then there are grounds to blame the satnav, but if not, the driver has only himself to blame.
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Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
Go 530T - unsupported
Go550 Live [not renewed]
Kia In-dash Tomtom

[geraint]

Surely there would have been a roadsign along the route somewhere indicating a width restriction or unsuitable for HGV...?

Having a satnav does not excuse you from driving without due care and attention.
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Geraint

TomTom for iPhone v1.9
App version: 8.300 (777309)
Map: Western Europe v875.3668

[lenfish]

[Daggers]

Even if the SatNav could be blamed for incidents like this, how could it be expected to know about a porch that was still being built?
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Garmin DriveSmart 50 LMT-D

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