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Couple stranded after GPS leads them astray

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by Weatherbug, Dec 29, 2009.

  1. Dec 29, 2009 #1
    Weatherbug

    Weatherbug Light Load Member

    95
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    Dec 9, 2009
    land of confusion
    0
    At least they were prepared for winter conditions.

    The Globe and Mail
     
    Weatherbug, Dec 29, 2009
    Weatherbug, Dec 29, 2009
    #1
    Baack Thanks this.
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  3. Dec 29, 2009 #2
    Biscuit75

    Biscuit75 Road Train Member

    1,035
    849
    Apr 4, 2009
    Central Ohio via the Suburbs of Detroit
    0
    What a couple of dopes. I'm glad they were OK, but c'mon! and a Christmas they will remember the rest of their lives?? They keep doing stupid #### like this it won't be a long time to remember.

    And how horrible is the 4-wheel drive in a Toyota?
     
    Biscuit75, Dec 29, 2009
    Biscuit75, Dec 29, 2009
    #2
  4. Dec 29, 2009 #3
    Weatherbug

    Weatherbug Light Load Member

    95
    79
    Dec 9, 2009
    land of confusion
    0
    I agree that they should have noticed that something was going seriously wrong before they got stranded in the snow. I am not familiar with using a navigation system on any vehicle, however, as I understand it (and please correct me if I am wrong) that such a system just points out the fastest route between point a and b; not the condition of the road or season of the year.
    That said, a 4-wheel drive doesn't make anyone indestructible no matter who makes it, and it truly is only as good as the person behind the wheel. (Just like the navigation system).
    I drive a tiny Suzuki 4 wheel drive (heh probably the one of the few, if not only 4 wheel drive sports cars ever made) and it has gotten me home after work on stormy nights when the snow is knee deep across the road. I chalk that up to a few things:

    1. I know the road
    2. I know what the car (technically and SUV) is capable of
    3. I know how to drive it.

    I believe our intrepid pair above failed on those three.
     
    Weatherbug, Dec 29, 2009
    Weatherbug, Dec 29, 2009
    #3
  5. Dec 29, 2009 #4
    Hardlyevr

    Hardlyevr Road Train Member

    3,270
    2,540
    Jul 30, 2009
    Mapleton Depot,PA
    0
    I guess now that this type of story will be an annual occurrence during the bad part of the winter. At least they were prepared enough to survive, unlike the folks who died from a similar situation last year. If only they could read a map!
     
    Hardlyevr, Dec 29, 2009
    Hardlyevr, Dec 29, 2009
    #4
  7. Dec 29, 2009 #5
    Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

    18,951
    8,981
    Apr 4, 2007
    0
    And they say truckers are dumb when they use a GPS.
     
    Roadmedic, Dec 29, 2009
    Roadmedic, Dec 29, 2009
    #5
  8. Dec 31, 2009 #6
    Drachen

    Drachen Heavy Load Member

    721
    1,766
    Jan 29, 2008
    Indiana
    0
    Suzuki made a 4wd sports car?..

    somehow this story resulted in other news stories about the GPS satellites being aged and broken which caused this couple to get stuck. the USAF immediately spoke up saying essentially "uh.. we don't make the maps people. this is the fault of the GPS Navigation system. not us"
     
    Drachen, Dec 31, 2009
    Drachen, Dec 31, 2009
    #6
  9. Dec 31, 2009 #7
    GTS2010

    GTS2010 Light Load Member

    60
    15
    Dec 29, 2009
    Queen Creek, AZ
    0
    I read the article on DrudgeReport.com a few days ago.

    Yes, they got lost using the GPS on their phone.
    Yes, they got stuck when they traveled a road that they should not have been on.
    Yes, they survived by being prepared ... ie. having survival supplies.

    Most importantly ... they did not panic !!

    Now, we as truck drivers ... could we have survived such an incident (provided the only communication device we had was a cell phone, with an intermittent signal) ??

    How many drivers carry "winter survival" supplies ... jugs of water, food stuffs, candle or Sterno etc. ??

    I say that this WAS an invaluable lesson for this wonderful couple ... and a great learning moment for ALL of us.
     
    GTS2010, Dec 31, 2009
    GTS2010, Dec 31, 2009
    #7
  10. Jan 1, 2010 #8
    mrtrdrvr

    mrtrdrvr Light Load Member

    154
    35
    Nov 6, 2009
    Indian River ,MI
    0
    I think we'd be all right for a couple of weeks:biggrin_25522:
     
    mrtrdrvr, Jan 1, 2010
    mrtrdrvr, Jan 1, 2010
    #8
    luvmyhubby Thanks this.
  11. Jan 15, 2010 #9
    K C

    K C Bobtail Member

    43
    12
    Jul 16, 2007
    The Big Road
    0
    Now that's what I call a "home away from home!" :) NICE!!


    Regarding supplies, does anyone who drives OTR out here NOT keep a big stash of survival goodies on board?? Maybe I'm just naive, but I kinda thought that went with the business of trucking...

    It would be interesting to see a poll done exclusively of truckers to find out what percentage carry an emergency supply stash. Personally, my wife and I don't hit the road without having a minimum of one week's worth of food and water... But maybe that habit was simply ingrained in us years and years ago when we got stuck for a couple of days on I-80 in a nasty ol' Wyoming blizzard...
     
    K C, Jan 15, 2010
    K C, Jan 15, 2010
    #9
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