Satnav Use in UK

http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-rel...-news-20120106

"Norman Baker calls Satnav Summit to help motorists find way

6 January 2012

Norman Baker, Local Transport Minister, will host the Government's
first 'Satnav Summit' to thrash out solutions to end the misery caused
when lorry and car drivers follow out of date directions from their
satnavs.

The Minister wants highway authorities, mapping providers and satnav
manufacturers to work more closely to ensure everything possible is
done to make sure the right vehicles are on the right roads.

At present, it can take months for map updates to make their way from
local councils to satnavs. As a result, thousands of drivers follow
out-of-date maps, and local residents end up with inappropriate
traffic on their doorsteps. . . .

The summit will take place in early March, a month before local
authorities gain important new powers to decide how their roads appear
on maps - helping them to better direct traffic. . . .

The summit will be attended by the Association of Directors of
Environment, Economy, Planning and Transportation (ADEPT) – which
represents councils in transport - and ITS(UK) which promotes
intelligent transport technology and whose membership includes satnav
companies.

It is essential that there are clear lines of communication which
allow councils to quickly get road classification information to
satnav companies so route calculation software can be updated.

Ministers are also tackling the misery caused by lorry drivers
following satnavs down narrow and inappropriate roads as part of a
package of new traffic signs rules.

Under the new rules confirmed last month councils will no longer need
Whitehall approval to introduce certain new signs or some existing
ones that they need to use on a regular basis – including one to warn
lorry drivers of unsuitable roads."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16434183

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...av-summit.html

"The move was welcomed by Jack Neill-Hall, Spokesman for the Campaign
to Protect Rural England.

'This is welcome news to those of us who are now all too familiar with
finding lost foreign lorries wedged in a narrow country lane or red-
faced tourists reversing off the village Cricket pitch,' he said.

'We can only hope all the delegates can successfully find their way to
the summit as well as finding a solution to the problem.' "