SatNav Blamed as Driver Submerges Himself and Pets

RobBrady

Yes, we all of course know the satnav was not to blame, but that was the stated reason why a driver drove his car straight into the harbour at Whittier, Alaska after leaving a ferry.

Residents of Whittier, a town which boasts a population of just 200 people, were more than a little startled by the event which saw the gentleman drive his vehicle down the entry ramp used by private boats.

According to witness accounts, the driver entered what is known locally as the "triangle area"; a small business district located to the east of the harbour basin. In the driver's own report of the incident he claimed that his satnav instructed him to turn right - directions which placed him on the harbour entry ramp.

Once there, the driver continued on his path, advancing 50 feet into the water before the car became fully submerged.

The man, who was accompanied in the car by two dogs and one cat, was able to escape from the vehicle with no serious injuries thanks to the assistance of another ferry passenger who had witnessed the event.

Another concerned witness managed to rescue the two dogs from the vehicle but was unfortunately unable to save the cat.

Source

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Robert Brady

Daggers · Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 3:35 pm Post subject:

Too stupid to be allowed to own animals!
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Garmin DriveSmart 50 LMT-D

GerryC · Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 3:53 pm Post subject:

Turn right... when you get back to the "road" - you know, the one that isn't full of water.

Triangle Road, Whittier AK

Gerry

lawtonca · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 3

When your insurance company asks 'why is your car at the bottom of the ocean' and your best answer is 'because the voices told me to put it there' you really should know something is wrong...

matthewj · Frequent Visitor Joined: Apr 03, 2006 Posts: 751

It's funny, but there are so many simple reasons that this might happen. For starters, had he just turned on the satnav? Perhaps it didn't actually have an accurate fix of his location. Then we know that they "snap" to the nearest known road, so it might have thought he was on the main road. And then of course there is the "turn right in 300 yards" problem where people don't understand how far 300 yards is.

None of these issues are ever mentioned in the instructions for Satnavs. But most people know to follow their noses and the local signs etc when in "off road" situations. I wonder how many of these incidents happen, where someone follows the satnav directions, but are smart enough to stop when they get to the water.

lenfish · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 49

Bishopstrow · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 25, 2011 Posts: 3

Open and use your eyes to watch the ROAD at all times.

If you can't see the road stop before you're stopped.

But there are some people who just shouldn't be allowed behind the wheel of a car; with or without a straight jacket...[/i]

IanS100 · Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 11:52 am Post subject:

Fortunately, most people continue to look through the windscreen & use some common sense rather than blindly following a disembodied voice.
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Galaxy Note 4 / TomTom GO : CamerAlert : CoPilot

HDRW · Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 2:24 pm Post subject:

They haven't said if this happened at night, which might make it slightly more understandable.

But there are some people who are psychologically unsuitable for driving, and shouldn't be allowed to do so. I had an aunt (no longer with us) who I consider fitted this - if someone had the audacity to overtake her, she would drive like a complete nutter until she had re-overtaken them and established her superiority over this random stranger. Even if that meant missing the turning she wanted, and then having to do a U-turn to go back to the place she wanted to go.

It's a shame the driving test doesn't analyse the driver's personality!

Cheers, Howard
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Howard, G1BYY
Mid-Herts RAYNET

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