GPS Navigators Damage 2000 Bridges In The UK
Every technology has its downsides, especially early in its life cycle before it really hits the mainstream and GPS is no exception. In the UK, Network Rail claims that GPS devices are directly responsible for damaging 2000 bridges every year by leading trucks down roads that are inappropriate for their size. This has resulted in 10 million Pounds per year in damages and 5000 hours of rail delays. And it seems as GPS adoption increases, so do the number of bridges hit every year.
In fact, Network Rail has begged drivers to pay attention to traffic signs rather than their GPS systems and some transportation councils have started to install signs warning drivers to ignore the commands of their GPS navigators altogether in some areas. The rail company has also began an attempt to map all of the UK’s low bridges and level crossings, and are in talk with sat-nav companies to have the information fed directly into GPS mapping systems in hopes that the problem will be eliminated.
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