Several small towns in Britain have a problem with GPS. You know how when you’re using a GPS device and you program the shortest route? Many times, the shortest route between Point A and Point B runs right through these small towns, and these towns aren’t built to accommodate the larger commercial trucks: trucks get stuck in the small towns’ small roads, get caught underneath some leftover medieval structure, etc. These type of incidents are increasing in frequency, costing local authorities money in the process. The trucks simply shouldn’t be driving through the town, but because good ol’ GPS said that was the best route…
Solution: remove the small towns from GPS databases. Gone, not there anymore. That way, when commercial truckers program their GPS device to go from London to Liverpool—a shipment of hubcaps, no doubt—the trucks don’t end up being routed through Small Town UK.
Is it an extreme solution? Maybe not, especially if have to keep prying out truck after truck from the affected tiny, windy roads.
Rural Britain wants to take itself off the GPS map [International Herald Tribune via Drudge]
Wouldn’t a better solution be to post height, weight and width restrictions on the roads? Trucks can’t go on many roads near my house because of older bridges that can’t support the weight. They could post signs and give fines to any trucks that go where they shouldn’t. Fines would offset the costs of getting the trucks out of the situation, plus a little for the local folks.
Ideally, the GPS systems could be setup to know these new regulations, and only give you directions that your type of vehicle is permitted to use. Actually, you could get some pretty cool results with more data in the GPS system. For instance, if I tell my GPS that I have three passengers, it could recommend HOV lanes for me, instead of normal lanes, when they are available.
Ha! Just don’t take them out of my tom tom…. I love driving through these silly little windy road towns. :)
Better yet, build walls and moats, add draw bridges, and don’t let anyone in or out.
I guess these towns don’t want to be found. I agree with Chuck; put restrictions on directions given by GPS, or the towns could put up signs like “Max weight 1 ton (or X stones)” with a hefty fine plus damages and punitive findings, for the city.
for a start, they could probably measure the width of the road. but that would cost more.
or they could reroute the GPS user. but needs to roll out a new software or update.
heck, just remove the map.
Better yet MAKE THE COMPANIES responsible for where they send there trucks. THEY are the ones who should know better.