Head clockwise, then regret it

An unofficial one-way system for coaches is causing sat nav problems

It is meant to make motoring less stressful, but satellite navigation is raising blood pressure among drivers on a renowned Irish tourist route.

Coach tours traditionally travel in an anti-clockwise direction around the narrow 120 mile Ring of Kerry trail between Killorglin and Kenmare.

However, camper vans and heavy vehicles using sat nav devices are being directed to go clockwise causing severe traffic jams at bottlenecks on the scenic route.

The issue has been raised at Killarney Town Council which is planning to ask sat nav manufacturers to adjust their sets to accommodate the unofficial, but traditional, one-way system.

Coach drivers are especially keen to see clear roads, citing difficulties with getting passengers to meet rail and airline connections.

Kerry coach driver Dennis Spillane has found himself feeling the squeeze on the narrow road recently.

Coaches take an anti-clockwise direction on the route

"About two miles from Killarney the road is very narrow, that's the tightest part of the road, I met an English-registered truck going up against me - we just couldn't pass the two of us," he said.

He said that not only did they have to reverse, but the long lines of traffic behind them had to as well.

"I asked the driver did he not see the sign and he said that the sat nav had brought him up that way," he added.

Navteq, one of the leading sat nav providers, said they would be delighted to hear from Killarney Council, and other local authorities with similar issues.

Irish tourism agency, Failte Ireland, said tourists traditionally enjoyed the best views on the Ring of Kerry when travelling in the anti-clockwise direction.

"Our view is that we would recommend the anti-clockwise option on the Ring of Kerry, but this is not always convenient for visitors because they may have different entrance and exit points along the route," a spokeswoman added.