So Network Rail think that Satellite Navigation systems are at the root of their problems?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/09/nsatnav109.xml
I'm not convinced; I manage perfectly well with a map, a bit of forward planning and a window, and I have never gone too far wrong! There again, Network Rail don't have a great track record when it comes to forward planning or seeing what is right under their nose, so it hardly surprising that they think we all 'drive by numbers'. If there really is a problem with lorries going around bashing bridges to the extent that they claim then I think there may be more plausible reasons. I would guess that incomprehensible road signs play their part, also I think that foreign lorry drivers may be at fault. Many do not speak English and they may struggle to understand our road signs and some may not be familiar with our measurements either so warning signs may mean very little to them. On the way into Kettering they have a sign with a sensor to tell lorries that they are too big and get them to turn off before they get stuck under the bridge. Maybe a few more signs like that may help. Perhaps Network Rail should start to think outside the box and come up with some imaginative ideas to prevent future accidents. If there really are all these cars and lorries causing so much disruption to the railway, Network Rail should be suing the drivers involved and it is a pretty safe bet that if sat-nav is at fault the motor insurance companies would pursue the sat-nav providers. It may be an alien concept to Network Rail but a certain amount of common sense is essential when driving (and a little more of it could work wonders on the railways too!) so maybe an IQ test should be compulsory for all drivers. If nothing else it would reduce traffic congestion over night!
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