The Poorhouse has long fantasised about testing how well one can drive solely by using the latest and greatest GPS satellite navigation technology. Admittedly, despite attempts at live traffic updates and the like, the days of being able to actually close ones' eyes and rely on that grating "After two-hundred metres...turn left. Turn left. Turn LEFT!" dominatrix are probably not here just yet. Nonetheless it sounds like a fun thing to do.

Although recently it was perhaps proved otherwise. Defeating the stereotypical age-doesn't-equal-technology rule, an 80-year-old motorist from Germany was heading down the motorway with his flashy GPS device. Coming across a "closed for construction" sign contradicting the sublime GPS "keep on going" voice he apparently decided that boring old manual technology could never compete with the wonders of hi-tech digitalness. He therefore kept going on irrespective of more warnings and barricades attempting to prevent his progress. Of course the inevitable happened and he crashed his lovely Mercedes, but fortunately it was into a conveniently placed pile of sand. The Poorhouse does not think this soft cushioning - which allowed all concerned to escape uninjured - was shown on the satnav.

This is not the first time those wacky Europeans have followed driving instructions just a little too directly. A couple of years ago a French OAP (is a pattern forming here?) also apparently did not realise the limitations of current GPS systems. Whilst cruising down a 130 km per hour road, the computer suddenly expressed a preference for doing a U-turn in the road. He complied. Headfirst into another car, the driver of which, perhaps unsurprisingly, was not anticipating this 180 degree turn. Stunningly, everyone survived unhurt.

The Poorhouse imagines there's a whole lot more of this around.