Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of GPS navigation services on the number of heavy goods vehicles travelling through villages.

There is no legal requirement for drivers of any vehicle to have or use satellite navigation equipment and the Government currently has no plans to mandate their use.

If such equipment is provided, it is important that it is suitable for the vehicle being driven and it is updated regularly to ensure it has the latest available maps. While these systems can be useful, they cannot replace a driver’s knowledge or skill, especially in the case of diversions due to road traffic collisions or roadworks.