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laloki · Mar 25th, 2009, 08:40 PM

I think SatNavs are brilliant - but boy it got this guy into trouble. I can't believe he continued following directions when there wasn't even a road....dumb ass.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-footpath.html

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 10:48 AM on 25th March 2009

A shocked driver is today facing a careless driving charge after his sat-nav left his BMW teetering on the edge of a cliff.

Robert Jones said he trusted the gadget and continued to follow its instructions, even when it took him up a steep, narrow footpath.

He only realised something was wrong when his car hit a fence and came to a stop just inches from a 100ft drop.

The 43-year-old, who works as a delivery driver, described the incident as a 'nightmare'.

He said 'It kept insisting the path was a road, even as it was getting narrower and steeper, so I just trusted it.

'I rely on my sat-nav, I couldn't do without it for my job.

'I guess I'm lucky the car didn't slip all the way over the edge. You don't expect to be taken nearly over a cliff.

Enlarge i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/03/25/article-1164705-04119E1B000005DC-72_468x443.jpg
Cliff hanger: The BMW owned by Robert Jones is hauled back from a 100ft drop by a four-wheel drive quad bike

'It has been a bit of a nightmare.'

A recovery team using a four-wheel drive quad bike took nine hours to haul the BMW away from the cliff edge off Bacup Road in Todmorden, West Yorkshire.

The operation attracted a crowd of astonished residents.

One said: 'It's all well and good trusting your sat-nav, but how about trusting your eyes and when there's not a road in front of you, don't keep driving?

'I've heard of lorries getting stuck on village roads but this really takes lack of common sense to a new level.'

West Yorkshire Police confirmed they had charged Mr Jones, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

A spokesman said: 'Nobody was hurt, but when someone nearly drives off a cliff that shows a lack of care which needs to be investigated.

'The driver has been summonsed to court for driving without care and attention.'

The incident comes as Britain's worst ‘sat-nav blackspots’ were revealed for the first time.

In the worst cases, coaches or trucks have repeatedly become wedged in historic villages, and drivers have even been diverted up railway lines or across non-existent bridges.

Often the problems are caused by foreign drivers using navigation systems that were designed for cars.

Four million sat-navs, which can now cost less than £100, are thought to be in use in the UK.

The new research reveals 21 of the worst blackspots. They include one in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, where drivers are directed to a non-existent crossing over the River Severn.

i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/03/25/article-1164705-04119E1F000005DC-449_468x297.jpg

Lucky escape: Mr Jones, 43, had followed the directions from his sat-nav up a steep, rocky path and only realised he was going the wrong way after crashing into a fence

Others include Rugley Road in Alnwick, near Berwick-upon-Tweed, where trucks often get stuck in a narrow ford; Alfriston, in East Sussex, where lorries are being steered through the historic village; and a right of way in Romiley, Stockport, that has been severely damaged by lorries getting stuck.

Only last week a driver drove 20 feet along the Doncaster to Hull railway line following an instruction from his device.

On another occasion 30 pensioners on a bus became wedged between grass banks on a sharp bend in Stroat, Gloucestershire.

The blackspots were revealed by Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker.

He said: ‘The technology is a blight on many communities. The rise in the use of sat nav 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 sat nav devices safer for large vehicles.’

He said the Government had promised to update the law in 2006 to make sure the devices were not giving illegal advice to motorists, but he said nothing has been done.

A spokesman for market leader TomTom, said many of the problems were caused by lorry drivers using devices intended for cars, not the specialist models for HGVs that factor in height and width.

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings has already warned that Britain's historic bridges, buildings and roads are being damaged in this way.

And last year Network Rail blamed the devices for a sharp increase in the number of railway bridges being hit by lorries. The number of ‘bridge bashes’ is now more than 2,000 a year.

Irishgal · Mar 25th, 2009, 10:14 PM

Somewhere, some German guy is laughing his a$$ off.

couture_addict · Mar 25th, 2009, 11:15 PM

This may become the updated version of the saying "if all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?".

Megs · Mar 25th, 2009, 11:28 PM

Honestly, what is wrong with this guy?! Did he not LOOK AROUND

he432 · Mar 25th, 2009, 11:54 PM

how did he not see the CLIFF coming up ahead? what an idiot!

couture_addict · Mar 25th, 2009, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by he432

how did he not see the CLIFF coming up ahead? what an idiot!

He probably missed the cliff because he was too busy looking at the FENCE he had to drive through to get to it

he432 · Mar 26th, 2009, 12:01 AM

Originally Posted by couture_addict

He probably missed the cliff because he was too busy looking at the FENCE he had to drive through to get to it

I didn't even see the fence!!! That makes it so much better

oxyoxy136 · Mar 26th, 2009, 12:28 AM

Sometimes navigation systems are evil. My friend was in Austin when her nav tried to lead her to a house she needed to go with a couple of friends.

It led her to a cemetary.

Did I mention that this happened on Halloween and was at night?

laloki · Mar 26th, 2009, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by laloki

Only last week a driver drove 20 feet along the Doncaster to Hull railway line following an instruction from his device.

And what about this bright spark - these idiots are loose on the road which is scary.

evolkatie · Mar 26th, 2009, 12:56 AM

I'm a little curious what delivery company he works for. Must be nice to be a delivery boy driving a bmw.

Baby Boo · Mar 26th, 2009, 03:15 AM

^ was wondering the same thing!!

GirlFriday · Mar 26th, 2009, 03:31 AM

Common sense says don't keep driving if you hit a fence and definitely don't keep driving toward a cliff...even if the smart little computer tells you to. Wow.

ayla · Mar 26th, 2009, 08:21 AM

Somewhere out there, there's a guy scrambling to update those maps !

~Fabulousity~ · Mar 26th, 2009, 10:05 AM

This reminds me of that commercial where the guy is following the directions of his navigation system and ends up turning right into a store front, LOL!

LV-PRADAfanatic · Mar 26th, 2009, 10:53 AM

i never trust GPS 100%.... only 50%

Mar 25th, 2009, 08:40 PM	#1
laloki OP Cheeky! Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 4,592	BMW left teetering on 100ft cliff edge after sat-nav directs driver up steep footpath I think SatNavs are brilliant - but boy it got this guy into trouble. I can't believe he continued following directions when there wasn't even a road....dumb ass. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-footpath.html By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 10:48 AM on 25th March 2009 A shocked driver is today facing a careless driving charge after his sat-nav left his BMW teetering on the edge of a cliff. Robert Jones said he trusted the gadget and continued to follow its instructions, even when it took him up a steep, narrow footpath. He only realised something was wrong when his car hit a fence and came to a stop just inches from a 100ft drop. The 43-year-old, who works as a delivery driver, described the incident as a 'nightmare'. He said 'It kept insisting the path was a road, even as it was getting narrower and steeper, so I just trusted it. 'I rely on my sat-nav, I couldn't do without it for my job. 'I guess I'm lucky the car didn't slip all the way over the edge. You don't expect to be taken nearly over a cliff. Enlarge i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/03/25/article-1164705-04119E1B000005DC-72_468x443.jpg Cliff hanger: The BMW owned by Robert Jones is hauled back from a 100ft drop by a four-wheel drive quad bike 'It has been a bit of a nightmare.' A recovery team using a four-wheel drive quad bike took nine hours to haul the BMW away from the cliff edge off Bacup Road in Todmorden, West Yorkshire. The operation attracted a crowd of astonished residents. One said: 'It's all well and good trusting your sat-nav, but how about trusting your eyes and when there's not a road in front of you, don't keep driving? 'I've heard of lorries getting stuck on village roads but this really takes lack of common sense to a new level.' West Yorkshire Police confirmed they had charged Mr Jones, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire. A spokesman said: 'Nobody was hurt, but when someone nearly drives off a cliff that shows a lack of care which needs to be investigated. 'The driver has been summonsed to court for driving without care and attention.' The incident comes as Britain's worst ‘sat-nav blackspots’ were revealed for the first time. In the worst cases, coaches or trucks have repeatedly become wedged in historic villages, and drivers have even been diverted up railway lines or across non-existent bridges. Often the problems are caused by foreign drivers using navigation systems that were designed for cars. Four million sat-navs, which can now cost less than £100, are thought to be in use in the UK. The new research reveals 21 of the worst blackspots. They include one in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, where drivers are directed to a non-existent crossing over the River Severn. i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/03/25/article-1164705-04119E1F000005DC-449_468x297.jpg Lucky escape: Mr Jones, 43, had followed the directions from his sat-nav up a steep, rocky path and only realised he was going the wrong way after crashing into a fence Others include Rugley Road in Alnwick, near Berwick-upon-Tweed, where trucks often get stuck in a narrow ford; Alfriston, in East Sussex, where lorries are being steered through the historic village; and a right of way in Romiley, Stockport, that has been severely damaged by lorries getting stuck. Only last week a driver drove 20 feet along the Doncaster to Hull railway line following an instruction from his device. On another occasion 30 pensioners on a bus became wedged between grass banks on a sharp bend in Stroat, Gloucestershire. The blackspots were revealed by Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker. He said: ‘The technology is a blight on many communities. The rise in the use of sat nav 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 sat nav devices safer for large vehicles.’ He said the Government had promised to update the law in 2006 to make sure the devices were not giving illegal advice to motorists, but he said nothing has been done. A spokesman for market leader TomTom, said many of the problems were caused by lorry drivers using devices intended for cars, not the specialist models for HGVs that factor in height and width. The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings has already warned that Britain's historic bridges, buildings and roads are being damaged in this way. And last year Network Rail blamed the devices for a sharp increase in the number of railway bridges being hit by lorries. The number of ‘bridge bashes’ is now more than 2,000 a year.
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Mar 25th, 2009, 10:14 PM	#2
Irishgal Over and out... Joined: Apr 2006 Location: The intersection of bitter and sweet Posts: 10,954	Somewhere, some German guy is laughing his a$$ off.
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Mar 25th, 2009, 11:15 PM	#3
couture_addict Just relax... Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,217	This may become the updated version of the saying "if all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?".
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Mar 25th, 2009, 11:28 PM	#4
Megs Administrator Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 26,829	Honestly, what is wrong with this guy?! Did he not LOOK AROUND
Megs Administrator Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 26,829	__________________

Mar 25th, 2009, 11:54 PM	#5
he432 sofa king awesome Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,104	how did he not see the CLIFF coming up ahead? what an idiot!
he432 sofa king awesome Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,104	__________________ R.I.P. Goobler July 18, 2008

Mar 26th, 2009, 12:28 AM	#8
oxyoxy136 PFTY: 11/02 Joined: Nov 2007 Location: UTA/Houston Posts: 1,330	Sometimes navigation systems are evil. My friend was in Austin when her nav tried to lead her to a house she needed to go with a couple of friends. It led her to a cemetary. Did I mention that this happened on Halloween and was at night?
	__________________ Back in school, round two. I want the real thing or nothing at all!

Mar 26th, 2009, 12:56 AM	#10
evolkatie Member Joined: Jan 2006 Location: USA Posts: 5,415	I'm a little curious what delivery company he works for. Must be nice to be a delivery boy driving a bmw.
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Mar 26th, 2009, 03:15 AM	#11
Baby Boo addicted to TPF Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Middle East Posts: 8,225	^ was wondering the same thing!!
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Mar 26th, 2009, 03:31 AM	#12
GirlFriday Member Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,350	Common sense says don't keep driving if you hit a fence and definitely don't keep driving toward a cliff...even if the smart little computer tells you to. Wow.
GirlFriday Member Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,350

Mar 26th, 2009, 08:21 AM	#13
ayla Gangsta Luv♥ Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 21,244	Somewhere out there, there's a guy scrambling to update those maps !
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Mar 26th, 2009, 10:05 AM	#14
~Fabulousity~ Member Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 12,911	This reminds me of that commercial where the guy is following the directions of his navigation system and ends up turning right into a store front, LOL!
~Fabulousity~ Member Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 12,911

Mar 26th, 2009, 10:53 AM	#15
LV-PRADAfanatic Built Hot for LV Joined: Oct 2007 Location: That's ME ^_^ Posts: 14,657	i never trust GPS 100%.... only 50%
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