Re: [Amusing] Truck drivers lured onto unpassable road by their GPSR

You don't have to go abroad to get the same result. In fact, I believe
sometimes it is built into the GPS as a faulty algorithm. I believe there
is a "rule" in my Magellan Explorist 600 that says if a road is not
identified by name in the internal database then name it as a continuation
of the road to which it is connected. Here in upstate NY we have plenty of
very small unnamed dirt raods leading from state highways to dead ends in
the woods. In one case I know of, a dirt road way too narrow for a semi
will display the name "Rt 30" (state route 30) since it is connected to
route 30, implying is is a wide paved major state highway.

In this case, it would be obvious that you are turning off a major highway
onto a tiny road, but I suppose one might try it. The point, however, is
that it may not always be stupid drivers - it could be a poor naming
convention in the GPS database.


"PJ Halls" <xx@xxxxx> wrote in message news:ereb6n$d56$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Harald Hanche-Olsen wrote:
There was an item on Norwegian TV news tonight, about the increasing
problem of foreign truck drivers trying to navigate a wintry Norway
using their GPS receivers to guide them. And then they get lured onto
roads that are wildly inappropropriate for big trucks, particularly in
winter conditions: Narrow twisty roads climbing up one side of a
valley, going across some mountains and then descending into the next
valley. They typically wind up stuck with some wheels in the ditch
from which they need to be extracted by tow truck. To add insult to
injury, they then have to back their trucks down the narrow twisty
road, often for many kilometers before there is a place to turn
around. All the time accompanied by the tow truck, which is needed to
extricate them from the inevitable further side trips into the ditch.

What fun!

Seriously, if truck drivers want to navigate by GPS they need better
maps, with proper information on the passability (or not) by big heavy
vehicles built into the maps.

We have the same sort of problem in Britain. The highways authority in
Hampshire have started to erect signposts at the entrance to minor lanes
instructing truck drivers to ignore their GPS and not enter. Others will
follow.

Clearly the main problem lies with the truck drivers: after all, if the
device told you to steer into a river ... I think, however, that part of
the problem lies with inadequate attribution of segments in the road
network in the GPS navigators - and possibly poor route finding
algorithms. I also suspect that a major factor is the attitude of our
European mapping agencies and their over inflated pricing. If the map
data actually included such details as road and bridge widths and the
excellent quality data from the mapping agencies were affordable, the GPS
navigators might be better navigation aids. The GPS devices or those
preparing the maps for the GPS, however, would likely have to work with
much more detailed mapping than at present, in order to extract the
detailed data that are required to direct this style of navigation. I'm
sure that by dropping their prices sufficiently, the growth in sales by
the mapping agencies would result in a significantly greater income than
at present, but none seem willing (or allowed by their governments) to
take such a commercial risk.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: [Amusing] Truck drivers lured onto unpassable road by their GPSR
    ... if truck drivers want to navigate by GPS they need better ... If the map data actually included such details as road and bridge widths and the excellent quality data from the mapping agencies were affordable, the GPS navigators might be better navigation aids. ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
  • Re: [Amusing] Truck drivers lured onto unpassable road by their GPSR
    ... The point, however, is that it may not always be stupid drivers - it could be a poor naming convention in the GPS database. ... if truck drivers want to navigate by GPS they need better ... If the map data actually included such details as road and bridge widths and the excellent quality data from the mapping agencies were affordable, the GPS navigators might be better navigation aids. ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
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