Out-of-date satnav directions to be discussed at Government summit

The issue of out-of-date satnav directions for UK motorists is set to be discussed at a Government summit. The discussion, pencilled in for early March, will be hosted by Local Transport Minister Norman Baker.

The figurehead is very keen to bring a halt to the frustration and misery caused when motorists follow out-of-date satnav directions that result in confusion and potential accidents.

Baker is also set to call upon highway authorities, mapping providers and satnav manufacturers to work closely together to do everything possible to ensure the right vehicles are on the right roads. This has particularly been a logistic nightmare for lorry drivers who are often led down an incorrect route due to out-of-date directions.

The Department for Transport revealed this week that it can take a number of months for satnav maps to be updated.

Local Transport Minister Norman Baker is keen to rid towns and cities of misdirected traffic, what he called the "scourge of local communities".

"It is vital highway authorities, mapping companies and satnav manufacturers work more closely together to provide drivers with accurate, up-to-date information on traffic restrictions such as narrow roads or low bridges," he said.

"This will help prevent huge lorries from being sent down inappropriate roads and ensure motorists are given the best possible directions."

It is an unfortunate fact that some car accidents result from driver confusion and at ASM Auto Recycling we regularly receive and retrieve salvage vehicles to our depots in Thame (Oxford) and Aylesbury.

Our vehicle transport service allows us to collect salvage vehicles from your home or place of work – whichever is most convenient. We are capable of meeting our collections across much of the Home Counties and Western England thanks to our modern fleet of 10 multi-vehicle car transporters.

Whether your car has been damaged as a result of a road accident or it has simply come to the end of its life at ASM we are responding to an increasing number of drivers who contacts as asking "can I scrap my car for cash?" Fortunately we have the capacity to store thousands of vehicles ready to be dismantled and recycled for used car parts.

Satnav drivers losing their sense of direction at the wheel

A scientist from the University of Dundee has revealed that UK motorists are becoming too reliant on satnav systems and as a result are losing their sense of direction at the wheel.

Dr Rosamund Langston, a lecturer in behavioural neuroscience, believes the constant use of satnav devices has created a ‘Hansel and Gretel generation’ of drivers who were simply lost without one.

Dr Langston said: “We seem to have some innate directional awareness which is ‘hard wired’ into our brains from birth.

“But we also found that another significant part of the brain’s ability to find its way around comes from our knack of memorising experiences from the places we have been previously.”

Plotting a route on a road atlas used to be the common way to find your way from A to B. But satnavs and other electronic in-car devices are not allowing drivers to think for themselves, taking away their ‘caveman’ ability to work out for themselves where they are.

Dr Langston added: “For instance, if you start a new job and you take time aside the week before to plan the route, drive it and try to remember it, then you’re going to be better equipped to do it unaided.

“If you’ve drive it ten times just following the flashing arrow on a satnav, you’re probably going to get lost half way there on your own.”

Disorientation is just one of a number of reasons motorists unintentionally cause accidents on the UK’s motorways. At ASM Auto Recycling we boast a great number of salvage cars for sale. These are vehicles recovered from the scenes of accidents but remain in good enough condition to be restored to roadworthy standards.