Skip to main content

Up the garden path

A supermarket delivery driver in the UK abandoned common sense when he opted to follow the instructions of his GPS device, turning what appeared to a short cut into a long delay. As customers waited anxiously for their delivery, the van man listened with intent to the words of authority from his GPS system and following its directions, his 1.82m wide delivery van soon became stuck in a 0.9m wide footpath. Bemused cyclists and pedestrians watched in amazement as the driver took no notice of the diminutive si
February 22, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A supermarket delivery driver in the UK abandoned common sense when he opted to follow the instructions of his GPS device, turning what appeared to a short cut into a long delay. As customers waited anxiously for their delivery, the van man listened with intent to the words of authority from his GPS system and following its directions, his 1.82m wide delivery van soon became stuck in a 0.9m wide footpath. Bemused cyclists and pedestrians watched in amazement as the driver took no notice of the diminutive size of the pathway and carried on down the leafy lane, until his vehicle became stuck. He then had to abandon the vehicle, which was later recovered. Locals commented that this is not the first time vehicles have tried to use the path, which does appear on GPS maps, however it is the first time someone has persisted in attempting to drive an oversize vehicle down the pedestrian track. Local officials plan to place bollards and warning signs at the end of the lane to prevent drivers from trying to use it.

Related Content

  • Narrow Passage
    November 15, 2016
    The driver of a motorhome in the UK now has reason to be more careful when following directions from his satnav system. The driver was following directions in the town of St Ives in Cornwall, which has many narrow streets that long predate the introduction of motor vehicles.
  • Liar, liar
    July 16, 2012
    A would-be car thief in the UK has set what is believed to be an international record for the world's most pathetic lie. When caught in the act of stealing a car, the youth claimed, "It wasn't me," despite having his arm trapped inside the vehicle at the time. The car owner heard shouts for help early one morning and found the teenager lying on the roof of the vehicle with his arm stuck inside the door. The youth then uttered his excuse and asked the owner to free him. The owner instead called the police an
  • Plain sailing for Caterpillar’s PM 300 series
    February 22, 2019
    Caterpillar’s revamped small cold planers have upped the stakes in the urban refurbishing market. World Highways deputy editor David Arminas recently caught up with A.J. Lee, global segment manager, on Spain’s Costa del Sol
  • Almost gone: Canada’s old Port Mann Bridge deconstructed
    August 14, 2015
    Three years ago a welder’s cut halved Canada’s old Port Mann Bridge. David Arminas reports from the banks of the Fraser River. By the time this issue of World Highways reaches you, one of Canada’s iconic steel arch bridges will be a shadow of its former self. It’s been a three-year demolition job since the first cut across the deck of the old Port Mann Bridge just outside the city of Vancouver on Canada’s Pacific coast. A new 10-lane 2.2km Port Mann Bridge opened in 2012 (see box). It runs parallel to the o