British Village Requests Removal From GPS Maps

longacre writes "The tiny village of Barrow Gurney, England, has asked GPS map publisher Tele Atlas to remove them from the company's maps. The reason: truck drivers using GPS navigation devices are being directed to drive through the town despite the roads being too narrow for sidewalks, which has led to numerous accidents. At the root of the problem lies the fact that the navigation maps used by trucks are the same as those used by passenger cars, and they don't contain data on road width or no-truck zones. Tele Atlas says they will release truck-appropriate databases at some point, but until then they advise local governments to make use of a technology dating back to the Romans: road signs."

Britooine

[graviplana]

These aren't the roads you're looking for.

Re:Road Signs?

[Anonymous Coward]

Cut him some slack, he probably just had some Decepticon ass to kick.

This is a local village...

[Aardpig]

...for local people.

Straight out of the Simpsons Movie.

[Anonymous Coward]

Coming up on your right... nothing.

So...

[Xeth]

...basically, by misdirecting trucks via GPS, the machines now have a way to kill us.

Adapt!

[4D6963]

Barrow Gurney, instead of trying to do away with this new source of traffic, adapt! Enjoy the opportunity of having all these truck divers going through your locality to develop your economy and move on to the next level!

Everyone knows a truck driver craves fornication with women. Have whores! Put some money into turning an old farm in dereliction into a brothel and import truckloads of east European prostitutes! Then build your economy around this, build hotels, fast-food restaurants, gynaecology clinics, and soon enough you'll be the city every European truck driver wants to stop in!

Got enough links in your post?

[Anonymous Coward]

Seriously, who are you? Wikipedia?

Re:Road Signs?

[pembo13]

Sounds like a great opportunity for the law enforcement officers of Barrow Gurney to make some money issuing fines.

Based on the given information, I actually agree with this. I just hope they don't use that as an excuse to be tasing truckers.

Re:So...

[Xeth]

Yeah, but the GPS-guided deathlorry can stalk you wherever you are.

Maybe if the ultrasound machines find a way to start luring unsuspecting humans into hospitals?

I have the solution!

[hellfire]

Make a bypass! Problem solved!

What? There's a house in the way? You say it's owned by Arthur Dent?

I'll get the byzantine paper trail started, go tell Prosser to fire up the bulldozer.

Re:Easier solution

[abigsmurf]

4. Get fined by the EU for using lb instead of kilograms

Re:Road Signs?

[DittoBox]

Don't taze me, good buddy! 10-4

Re:Road Signs?

[RattFink]

I just hope they don't use that as an excuse to be tasing truckers.

How the heck you you expect the police to fill their tase quota without picking off a trucker or two? Sheesh people these days.

Re:Road Signs?

[Megane]

think in jolly ole England those Maximum Clearance" sign are marked "Max. Headroom". How many times have truck drivers, in England they are called lorry drivers, ignore all of those signs. Here are some image of what happens if someone ignores those signs

Here's what else can happen if you ignore those signs:
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q101/djpaultimberman/maxHeadroom2.jpg [photobucket.com]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWdgAMYjYSs [youtube.com]

Re:Road Signs?

[jedidiah]

Don't be silly. We shoot and bludgeon our truckers here.

Don't be such a pansy.

Re:This is a local village...

[Anonymous Coward]

Well it doesn't shock me that there are accidents, they are all driving on the wrong side of the road.

Re:Road Signs?

[SomeGuyFromCA]

I heard that as a Bill Engvall routine.

Cop pulls up and asks "Ya get yer truck stuck?"

Trucker: "Nosir, I was delivering this overpass and I ran outta gas!"

Re:Road Signs?

[eggnoglatte]

I know! The British truck drivers are the worst! They are all driving on the wrong side of the road! /ducks

Re:Road Signs?

[teh kurisu]

There's already a solution [carpages.co.uk] to the fire engine problem.

Re:Road Signs?

[Bloke down the pub]

I was hoping for one of those horsedrawn ones, with those up-and-down pump handles and lots of brass. It would fit the 'Olde English Village' image too.

Re:Road Signs?

[Rhaban]

"Why don't you let some air out of the tyres?"

This kid did not realize it was the top of the truck that was stuck, not the bottom!

Re:Road Signs?

[scottv67]

And don't get me started on dog owners who use those ten-foot leashes and assume their mutts understand traffic

Actually, that would be a safe assumption to make. The mutts who don't understand traffic are not on leashes anymore...

Better than the original solution

[geobeck]

I found a copy of the original correspondence between the village and the TeleAtlas:

)Dear TeleAtlas: Please wipe us off the map.

Dear Barrow Gurney council: We have contacted the Ministry of Defence. Unfortunately, they do not have the capacity to fulfill your request. They have contracted an ex-government organization in the Ukraine that has a surplus device that will suit your needs. Please have everyone at a minimum safe distance of 20 miles by 6 o'clock this morning. We apologize for the delay in sending this response, however... um... never mind.

Re:Road Signs?

[poot_rootbeer]

Just put up a sign saying "Toll Road for Trucks: XX $" and watch how truckers do a quick reverse and disappear forever.

Such a sign would be especially effective at discouraging British truck drivers who don't routinely keep American currency on hand.

Re:Road Signs?

[ChartBoy]

This isn't Amsterdam... # is illegal in the UK.