BARRIERS are to be installed at a set of stairs in central Edinburgh after several drivers attempted to take the route due to satnav errors amid a road change.
Edinburgh councillor Scott Arthur called the incidents "concerning" and urged cars and trucks to not drive down the steps, adding that satnav is "no substitute for common sense"
The steps at the foot of Calton Hill in the capital have been closed to traffic since last year. The route was previously driveable, but pavement now divides the road from the lane and steps have been installed.
However, GPS software - including Google Maps and Apple Maps - failed to acknowledge the change. This led to several vehicles pictured stuck on the steps – including a lorry.
Google has since changed the bug, and the City of Edinburgh Council has said a request has been made to Apple.
READ MORE: Satnav error sends another vehicle down central Edinburgh staircase
This week, temporary barriers will be installed.
Arthur, the council's transport and environment convener, said: "The footpath in this area is incredibly busy, so these incidents are really concerning.
"While we would expect drivers to use common sense in a situation like this, we are going to install temporary barriers this week to prevent it happening again."
He added that when the change to the road was considered, “no issues were raised”.
Arthur said: "No issues were raised as part of the road safety audit for the project and Google Maps was recently updated to reflect the new layout and a request for a correction has been sent to Apple Maps.
"Satnav is an incredibly useful tool, but it's no substitute for common sense. Cars and trucks don't go down steps."
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