Photo: Google Maps/autoevolution edits
As the world's number one mobile navigation app, Google Maps is currently running in millions of vehicles on the road, with drivers relying on its data to find addresses on unfamiliar routes.
Unfortunately, the smallest error in Google Maps' data could point drivers to a different address without them knowing about it, especially when driving to a destination they've never been before.
This is what happened recently in Montgomery, where drivers heading to the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services were sent by Google Maps miles away to the Grace Episcopal Day School in Kensington.
The Google Maps information shows the school approximately six miles (nearly 10 kilometers) from the health center.
School officials told the local media that approximately 100 people arrived at the location in the last two months, guided by Google Maps, to find a doctor. In some cases, they weren't even speaking English, so the school's Spanish teacher had to leave the class specifically to talk to the misguided Google Maps users and direct them to the correct address.
To prevent drivers from knocking on the school's door, the administration team erected a sign to tell them they're in the wrong place if they seek the medical center.
Meanwhile, the local media is reporting that Google has already corrected the error, albeit some people might still arrive at the wrong address if they saved the destination or didn't refresh the application, keeping the maps in the cache.
The case shows how much people rely on navigation apps to find destinations, sometimes following the suggested routes blindly and ignoring the street signs.
Authorities worldwide have been struggling to convince drivers to pay more attention to traffic signs and ignore Google Maps' directions, especially when they send users to the wrong locations. In some cases, officials or residents even erected signs to tell drivers that "Google Maps was wrong," offering additional information to direct them to a destination incorrectly listed in Google's app.
Meanwhile, Google typically handles these errors with utmost priority, albeit users must report them the second they notice a location has the wrong address. Google Maps comes with a built-in error reporting engine, so flagging a map issue doesn't take more than a few seconds.
Montgomery County says the DHHS staff can assist users in fixing Google Maps to find the correct address for the medical center now that Google has already corrected the error. However, users are recommended to search for the route before they begin driving and double-check that the destination is at the correct location.
A search giant representative told the local press that an investigation is underway, but considering the error has already been resolved, there's not much Google can do.
This is what happened recently in Montgomery, where drivers heading to the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services were sent by Google Maps miles away to the Grace Episcopal Day School in Kensington.
The Google Maps information shows the school approximately six miles (nearly 10 kilometers) from the health center.
School officials told the local media that approximately 100 people arrived at the location in the last two months, guided by Google Maps, to find a doctor. In some cases, they weren't even speaking English, so the school's Spanish teacher had to leave the class specifically to talk to the misguided Google Maps users and direct them to the correct address.
To prevent drivers from knocking on the school's door, the administration team erected a sign to tell them they're in the wrong place if they seek the medical center.
Meanwhile, the local media is reporting that Google has already corrected the error, albeit some people might still arrive at the wrong address if they saved the destination or didn't refresh the application, keeping the maps in the cache.
The case shows how much people rely on navigation apps to find destinations, sometimes following the suggested routes blindly and ignoring the street signs.
Authorities worldwide have been struggling to convince drivers to pay more attention to traffic signs and ignore Google Maps' directions, especially when they send users to the wrong locations. In some cases, officials or residents even erected signs to tell drivers that "Google Maps was wrong," offering additional information to direct them to a destination incorrectly listed in Google's app.
Meanwhile, Google typically handles these errors with utmost priority, albeit users must report them the second they notice a location has the wrong address. Google Maps comes with a built-in error reporting engine, so flagging a map issue doesn't take more than a few seconds.
Montgomery County says the DHHS staff can assist users in fixing Google Maps to find the correct address for the medical center now that Google has already corrected the error. However, users are recommended to search for the route before they begin driving and double-check that the destination is at the correct location.
A search giant representative told the local press that an investigation is underway, but considering the error has already been resolved, there's not much Google can do.
Google News