A senior Leeds councillor has backed calls for lorries to be banned from using standard sat-nav systems, to prevent chaos for pedestrians and car users.
Stewart Golton said HGV drivers using a GPS system designed for cars can be a “menace” as they’re frequently sent down roads not designed for large vehicles.
One such example is Pottery Lane, in Woodlesford, which HGVs use to avoid the low railway bridge on the neighbouring Aberford Road.
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That’s despite signs instructing them not to use Pottery Lane, which is a narrow bendy road, with a very steep hill. One local resident said the situation was “ridiculous”.
The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils across the UK, has again called for the government to legislate over the issue this month, having previously suggested changes back in 2017.
Councillor Golton, who leads Leeds’ Liberal Democrat group, said: “HGV drivers using the wrong GPS can be a menace when they try to navigate roads that weren’t designed to accommodate such vehicles. I have seen the consequences with my own eyes.
“Besides the immediate risk to pedestrians, residents’ lives are put on hold if a vehicle is stuck and has to be extracted, or a bridge is struck and must be inspected before being allowed to reopen.”
Speaking about Pottery Lane, which falls within the Rothwell ward he represents, Coun Golton said: “They get stuck halfway along the road when they realise they can’t climb the hill, and then have to perform a 38 point turn that can take hours. Meanwhile, every other road user is in limbo.”
Peter Holley, has lived on Pottery Lane for 30 years. He was critical of lorry drivers for ignoring signs telling them not to drive down the road.
Mr Holley said: “I’ve stopped them in the middle of the road before and said ‘Why are you coming up here?’ and they just say, “My sat-nav sent me up here. It’s just ridiculous. They just seem completely oblivious to it all.
“We’ve had several occasions where the lorries bottle it when they get to the hill and realise they can’t drive up it. They just don’t know what to do and end up having to do a 57-point turn in the road. I’ve even seen them reverse all the way back up the road to Aberford Road (almost half-a-mile) before.”
The Road Haulage Association (RHA), which represents the HGV industry, has been contacted for comment.
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