And Finally... Satnav sends driver down path to 100ft cliff

By James Shepherd on Mar 25, 09 11:20 AM in News

Horrified Robert Jones ended up with a careless driving charge after his satnav left his BMW perched on the edge of a cliff.

Robert, 43, followed the device's instructions as he headed for a friend's house - even when it began taking him up a steep, rocky footpath.

He finally realised something was seriously wrong when his BMW hit a fence just inches from a 100ft drop.

Robert said: "I just trusted the satnav.

"It kept insisting that the path was a road even as it was getting narrower and steeper.

"I rely on my satnav, I couldn't do without it for my job. I guess I'm lucky the car didn't slip all the way over the edge. But it has been a bit of a nightmare."

It took nine hours for a recovery team to haul the BMW away from the cliff edge in Todmorden, West Yorks.

The rescue operation attracted a large crowd of astonished locals.

One said: "What a waste of police time. It's all well and good trusting your satnav but how about trusting your eyes and when there's not a road in front of you, don't keep driving?

"I've heard of lorries getting stuck on village roads but this really takes lack of common sense to a new level."

Police confirmed they had charged Robert. A spokesman said: "Nobody was hurt. But when someone nearly drives off a cliff that shows a lack of care which needs to be investigated."

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