UK motor insurance news
12/03/2007

Woman's car insurance not affected by sat nav mistake

A 52-year-old lady who followed her sat nav system a little too closely has been spared prosecution for her actions.

The NHS executive from Dorking made her potentially dangerous gaffe in early 2007, when she turned onto a railway track because her sat nav prompted her to turn left.

Unfortunately, the Ford Fiesta got stuck and she was forced to leave it on the Brighton to Hastings line in rush hour, blocking the track and causing serious delays.

The British Transport Police (BTP) had been considering pressing charges but has announced that they have decided against the move, which could well have seen the lady lose any chance of low cost woman car insurance.

A spokesperson for the BTP said: "We have looked into the matter, including inquiries into any fault with the satnav device, and have come to the conclusion that there was no fault.

"Taking into consideration that it was dark when the incident occurred, we have concluded the woman made a bad but honest mistake. A prosecution is not in the public interest and the matter is now closed."

Lee-Anne Bass, of the woman car insurance company CoverGirl Car Insurance Services, said: "This lady was very lucky to escape without penalty from either the police or her motor insurance firm.

"It is an unfortunate incident, but it reminds us all to think twice before following our sat nav system."