Use map to stay on track

THE good old Melway or UBD street directory is more reliable than ‘blindly’ following your GPS navigation unit, police say.
Victoria Police this week urged motorists to take street directories with them, even if they relied on a GPS navigational unit.
The call comes after rural police in Bright dealt with two vehicles that have driven on roads more suited to four-wheel-drives in Victoria’s Alpine region.
One incident involved a family with a young child attempting to drive from Bright to Cranbourne.
Police said the family used the GPS to take them on the shortest possible route home which led the family on to the Tea Tree Range 4WD track on a steep wet slope where they were unable to progress any further.
Senior Sergeant Doug Incoll said GPS units failed to identify which roads were suitable for a sedan.
“The function of a GPS is to give you the shortest or fastest route to your destination and does not take into account the suitability of your vehicle for that particular road,” Sen Sgt Incoll said.
“An increasing number of motorists are relying on GPS systems to get them from A to B and as winter approaches, some roads can become more hazardous and difficult to drive on.”
“Incidents like (the Cranbourne example) use a lot of police resources and other agencies to find and rescue motorists who are stuck on difficult tracks.
“A seemingly simple mistake can quickly become a very dangerous situation that can lead to serious injury or death.
“It is easy for drivers to put themselves and their family in danger; however it can easily be avoided by simply carrying a map.”