Not all GPS helps

An Australian family ran into trouble last week after ignoring warning signs and keeping faith in their GPS which led to them being stranded in their ute, Australian for utility vehicle, for 3 nights in the outback of New South Wales. The family of four, including 2 teenage boys and their dog, had been travelling between Brisbane and Perth when they followed their Sat Nav along the well-renowned and picturesque Darling River Road.

Unfortunately signs had been put up along the road to warn travellers that the road had been affected by heavy rainfall. The family became stranded after their vehicle and trailer became bogged down in the near to the town of Wilcannia and raised the alarm with the local police over the phone. According to the police, rescuers struggled through “extremely difficult and treacherous” conditions to reach the family on the the road.

Advice from the local tourist boards and information websites warn that “4WDs are recommended because rain can transform the road surface into a mudbath in a matter of hours”. It is certainly advisable to follow any recently added signs on the roadside as they will be considerably more up to date than the average Sat Nav.

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