Government wants a satnav summit

POSSIBLY BECAUSE it does not have enough to worry about, the UK government has decided that it should oversee satellite navigation systems.

Yes, everything else might be crumbing about our ears, but the government apparently is happy to intervene in driving and traffic software.

Local Transport Minister Norman Baker will host the Satnav Summit to "thrash out solutions to end the misery caused when lorry and car drivers follow out of date directions from their satnavs".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 March meeting will pull together highway authorities, mapping providers and satnav manufacturers and urge them to work closer together to make sure that the right routes are used for the right vehicles, said the government, and will let local authorities have more of a say over what sort of traffic they get on which of their roads.

Currently it can take months to update maps and as a result people can end up with inappropriate traffic as large vehicles or too many vehicles travel down local roads. Another problem that apparently needs government intervention is the fact that users do not update their own maps, meaning that they too can find themselves off course.

"Out of date directions mean misdirected traffic - a scourge of local communities. It is vital highway authorities, mapping companies and satnav manufacturers work more closely together to provide drivers with accurate, up-to-date information on traffic restrictions such as narrow roads or low bridges," said Baker.

"This will help prevent huge lorries from being sent down inappropriate roads and ensure motorists are given the best possible directions." µ