British drivers have now spent £340 million on Satellite Navigation systems which may take us in the wrong direction, writes Mrs. M, as with Earl Spencer’s daughter’s 250 mile misadventure to Stanford Bridge.

Last week I was stuck down a single track lane for fifteen minutes with my Scottie, Macbeth, waiting for a Amey Roadstone lorry to back a quarter of a mile. Maddening!! Blind reliance on these devices is sending lorries into tiny villages, over historic bridges, down country lanes and sometimes into rivers! The traffic chaos, noise, and disruption to the countryside, as well as damage to heritage monuments, are causing an uproar of protest. The Ordinance Survey is helping to prepare maps which will avoid these fragile situations, but they won’t be ready for two years.

Many who live in the countryside say they see and hear lorries on country lanes causing traffic and noise disruption in peaceful rural areas. As sat-nav producers reap the profits, they should be responsible for programming their devices in such a way they don’t cause problems for the countryside. So far damage to 2,000 bridges would add up to a sizable law suit against the manufacturers! Sat- Nav Beware!