Councils call for ban on faulty sat navs to protect local roads

The Local Government Association (LGA) has said that HGV drivers should be banned from using standard car sat navs and instead use specialist lorry sat navs. Car sat navs are causing lorries to crash into bridges and get stuck down narrow roads.

The LGA, which represents councils in England in Wales is calling for the government to take action and use the upcoming Transport Bill to require all HGV drivers to use specialist sat navs, which include bridge heights, and highlight narrow roads and roads unsuitable for trucks. The driver is also able to input the lorry's dimensions.

The LGA cited several incidents this year including: a lorry blocking a street in Bristol for 15 hours, so that it could only be moved by a crane; a lorry carrying paint crashing into a bridge in Leicestershire, spilling paint on the road and blocking it for over 12 hours; and in Somerset, a car transporter becoming wedged on a local country lane, blocking access to homes in the area.

Cllr David Renard, LGA Transport spokesperson, said: “The spate of accidents we continue to see involving lorries blocking streets, damaging local areas and crashing into bridges on an all too regular basis are causing major disruption to local communities.

“There are more lorry journeys than ever, risking more incidents. HGV mileage grew by nearly 9 per cent over the last year and is back above pre-pandemic levels.

“Councils already work with freight and haulage companies to ensure that lorries use the most suitable routes and roads. However, there are a minority of drivers who continue to follow satnav systems that take them down routes that are totally inappropriate for the weight and height of their vehicle.

“By making it mandatory for anyone operating an HGV to use a specialist satnav device, the Government can help to reduce the risk of accidents and keep our roads moving.”