Posted on 01/16/2007 2:42:03 PM PST by BenLurkin
BERLIN (Reuters) - A 46-year-old German motorist driving along a busy road suddenly veered to the left and ended up stuck on a railway track -- because his satellite navigation system told him to, police said Sunday.
The motorist was heading into the north German city of Bremen "when the friendly voice from his satnav told him to turn left," a spokesman said.
"He did what he was ordered to do and turned his Audi left up over the curb and onto the track of a local streetcar line. He tried to back up off the track but got completely stuck."
The police spokesman said about a dozen trams were held up until a tow truck arrived to clear the car off the track.
Several German motorists have crashed their cars in recent months, later telling police they were only obeying orders from their satnavs.
German has a reputation for being the perfect language for issuing orders. If someone shouted, "Turn left!" at me in German, I'd probably obey before thinking, too. (Fortunately, I don't understand German.)
Truck drivers following nav directions to the Do It Best warehouse down the street from my job always end up at my gatehouse.
Seems the system they use has a database, and it is messed up 'a little'.
Also happens for drivers heading to Overnite, and Home Depot warehouses in the same area.
The Germans did transcend 200 years ago. No other nationality can claim that.
"Ve have vays of makingk you turn!
Drehen Sie sich nach links! (Say it as if you're Sgt. Schultz...)
(Loosely translated that means, "Do the opposite of turning right!") ;)
When using the "Always Lost System" while vacationing in DC, the silly lady tried to get us to go into the Potomac.
Guess we are smarter than German folk, cause we did not listen.
According to Mark Steyn one of those orders includes men sitting down to take a leak. Sheesh..
DOH! Now I'm stuck in a snow-drift! Thanks a lot!!!
What are you doing Freeping while driving! I'm making a Citizen's Arrest!
Well, I drive from the back seat, you see? That way when I do something stupid...
It pays to be a little bit smarter than the gps.
LOL!
I read this yesterday on another site and was actually trying to figure out how to post it, but being challenged in that department, I thank you for posting it!
'Turn left (crash) in 50 feet.' - Progressive
We have eyeballs and reflexes and a brain for good reasons. And it's not to be able to buy technocrap just "because it's there" Evolutional Theory in Action?
I just have to wonder about the recently announced plan for a Japanese vehicle that can drive itself home...
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