www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37703556
Sat-nav maps update aims to prevent stuck lorries
A multi-million pound sat-nav project aims to stop lorries and other vehicles getting stuck in narrow lanes and under low-lying bridges on UK routes.
Ordnance Survey is creating a database that will contain information about 200,000 miles (321,869km) of roadways to prevent such accidents.
The Transport Secretary Andrew Jones said the digital facility would launch before the end of the year.
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I have a lot of thoughts on that one!
Why, when a brand new tractor unit (the front bit) costs around £70,000 upwards and includes fridge, state of the art stereo system and sophisticated telematics system that can tell every move the driver makes, do they not fit sat navs in lorries incorporating this sort of system (they are available now).
At the moment the current HGV based satnavs cost around £400 and this cost has to be paid by the driver.
It's not even tax deductible as it isn't considered necessary to do the job.
The pics in the link are misleading to say the least.
Marlborough is a challenge for any newish driver at the best of times.
The Argos lorry had plenty of room to get round if the far wasn't parked on the road junction
The Hankins lorry ...... I live next door to one of their drivers and the only way they got that out was with a crane to lift the trailer out and yes, he was lost, but didn't have a sat nav!
It's easy to blame sat navs but the vast majority of lorry drivers use them in conjunction with a bridge height map and always check that first.
We've had a spate of bridge strikes in 2015 and sat navs were not a factor in any of the five strikes, it was simply lack of attention.
Those five drivers are no longer with us, there was no option once the cause was admitted.
Pat
Last edited by: Pat on Wed 19 Oct 16 at 16:59
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>>if the far wasn't parked on the road junction<<
Edit: Car
In my defence I'm trying to cook and type here but I don't expect any sympathy as I know men don't understand multi-tasking!
Pat
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Pat
Thanks for your details of the background and the aftermath.
The general public see the "dramatic" photos of the event and that is the last of it
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I know Henry, thanks for understanding.
Everyone blames the satnav....even the odd rogue lorry driver at times:)
Pat
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Well done Pat.
My good Lady cannot multi task to save her life.
I told her to sit down and Shut up and she couldn't do either!
Now where the hell did she put that first aid kit?
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I've got this mental vision of Pat posting and cooking. I'm sure we're all aware of her, self confessed, culinary skills.
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>>I've got this mental vision of Pat <<
That would probably be entirely accurate BT:)
Pat
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My son drives for a national food distribution firm. His truck has a special 'lorry' satnav (which also tracks his movements). He didn't have to pay for it.
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No, of course he wouldn't Mike, it's incorporated into the telematics and tracking system.
A few telematics systems do this but they are not very common as they are classed as an 'extra'.
That means an own account haulier, distributing their own goods will be prepared to add them on as the manufacturing business has to be profitable and not the haulage side.
We're swapping to a more comprehensive telematics system next year ad I haven't asked the question as to whether it will incorporate sat nav yet, but I bet the answer will be 'Well Pat, it has the facility but it was too expensive for 100+ lorries':)
In other words 'why should we when drivers are buying their own now!
Pt
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I would love a feature in Sat Navs so that it doesn't lead me to single track country lanes :(
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>> I would love a feature in Sat Navs so that it doesn't lead me to
>> single track country lanes :(
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It is not mandatory to obey your sat nav. Having planned your journey you must have a mental picture of the route.
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Agree but there are situations where due to external factors I could not stick with pre-planned routes.
If I can see sat nav is pushing me into a single track road, I can skip that and continue on main road. But sometimes normal roads suddenly become single track!
Often road names do not indicate width either. In most of England, A and B roads are of good quality. But in Wales/SW England often B roads are single track and unnamed roads are just mud paths.
I faced few heart stopping moment at Iceland last year. I planned carefully to avoid all gravel roads. But due to some road works I had to rely on sat nav for alternate roads and it pushed me to gravel roads. In one case I hand to turn back after 5 miles into a gravel road because I realized I might have to drive over 30 miles on such roads.
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My sat nav has a selectable avoid unmade roads function, also a avoid toll roads and avoid ferries. If any of them are selected and it has to use them it warns you.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Fri 21 Oct 16 at 14:20
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Yes but it will still route you down a narrow lane because the mapping available doesn't have this information hence the the project describe in the news item.
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Sat Nav - for Lorries routes - Pat
