Are sat navs to blame for the rise in bizarre motorway accidents?

23 October 2023

Do you or your colleagues regularly use sat nav devices when driving?
 
If so, you might be interested to learn that this technology is thought to be responsible for a 13 per cent rise in the number of incidents involving a motorist travelling in the wrong direction along a motorway.

The figure has risen to 872 incidents so far this year from January 1 to June 19 2023.

Whilst this may seem a relatively small figure in the grand scheme of things, it represents a concerning, growing trend in incidents arising from an over-reliance on technology.

While many are unable to recall a time before sat navs, which can be a useful tool, it has become too common for drivers to use them routinely on every trip and ignore the road signage around them. 

At this point, sat navs become a dangerous distraction that can lead to accidents.
 
AA president Edmund King said, “The increase in the number of vehicles being driven in the wrong direction on motorways is frightening and can be fatal.
 
“Generally, the slip road layout and signage are designed to ensure joining the motorway in the right direction is intuitive.
 
“However, sometimes drivers follow Sat Nav directions without thinking, for example, to ‘take the third exit’, without actually checking the signage, and therefore they can make mistakes.”
 
Naturally, if you encounter an oncoming vehicle whilst driving on the motorway, you should report it to the police by calling 999 if it is safe for you to do so.

Contact us for minibus leasing

We at Marshall Minibus are proud to serve schools, charities and care homes throughout the UK. 

Our minibus leasing contracts are flexible, with tailored payment plans to suit your budget and you can choose from a range of vehicles from 8-seater and 9-seater minibuses all the way through to 17-seater minibuses. 

To find out more, please contact us by calling 01480 220444 or emailing info@marshall-minibus.co.uk.

Back to Blog listings