Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
The likes of Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps come in incredibly handy when navigating a new region, especially because you're unfamiliar with the roads.
But on the other hand, trusting everything these applications show on the screen is a huge no-no, as drivers must simply keep an eye on road signs and follow the official instructions precisely.
Any other option is extremely dangerous, and a recent incident that happened in Giridih, India, is confirmation in this regard.
Three men from Hazaribag were using Google Maps to find their way home. They decided to use the fastest route to the destination and followed the sat-nav's instructions closely.
The navigation app eventually directed the three toward an under-construction bridge in Barganda. One of the men walked near the river to determine how deep it was, as they believed that following the route suggested by Google Maps might be too dangerous. Due to the currents the man was swept away by the current, eventually falling into the water.
His two friends jumped into the water to help him, but they went missing after some time. The only survivor says he managed to escape but lost contact with the two other two. They were found by the emergency teams 500 meters down the river, but unfortunately, both were already deceased.
This isn't the first time when following Google Maps' directions proves to be a very risky idea.
Back in 2020, two Russians were driving on the highway when the navigation app suggested a faster route. They decided to take it, only to end up all alone on an abandoned road far away from the highway.
Their car eventually broke down in a region without a cellular signal, and after several failed attempts to walk to the nearest town, they decided to stay in the car and try to face the brutally cold weather temperatures. The driver eventually froze to death, while the passenger was found after several days with severe injuries.
Navigation apps are a great piece of technology, but at the same time, you should always use them cautiously, especially because they can't be fully up-to-date with what happens on the road. Some solutions rely on crowdsourcing to make sure their instructions and map information are accurate, but even so, following the road signs is critical for every driver out there.
At the same time, you should always use Google Maps navigation with the appropriate mode. For example, the application does not offer truck guidance, so using its navigation engine in a large vehicle could send you on roads where a lorry wouldn’t fit. According to the local media, the three men were all bikers, so they used Google Maps for navigation on motorcycles.
Any other option is extremely dangerous, and a recent incident that happened in Giridih, India, is confirmation in this regard.
Three men from Hazaribag were using Google Maps to find their way home. They decided to use the fastest route to the destination and followed the sat-nav's instructions closely.
The navigation app eventually directed the three toward an under-construction bridge in Barganda. One of the men walked near the river to determine how deep it was, as they believed that following the route suggested by Google Maps might be too dangerous. Due to the currents the man was swept away by the current, eventually falling into the water.
His two friends jumped into the water to help him, but they went missing after some time. The only survivor says he managed to escape but lost contact with the two other two. They were found by the emergency teams 500 meters down the river, but unfortunately, both were already deceased.
This isn't the first time when following Google Maps' directions proves to be a very risky idea.
Back in 2020, two Russians were driving on the highway when the navigation app suggested a faster route. They decided to take it, only to end up all alone on an abandoned road far away from the highway.
Their car eventually broke down in a region without a cellular signal, and after several failed attempts to walk to the nearest town, they decided to stay in the car and try to face the brutally cold weather temperatures. The driver eventually froze to death, while the passenger was found after several days with severe injuries.
Navigation apps are a great piece of technology, but at the same time, you should always use them cautiously, especially because they can't be fully up-to-date with what happens on the road. Some solutions rely on crowdsourcing to make sure their instructions and map information are accurate, but even so, following the road signs is critical for every driver out there.
At the same time, you should always use Google Maps navigation with the appropriate mode. For example, the application does not offer truck guidance, so using its navigation engine in a large vehicle could send you on roads where a lorry wouldn’t fit. According to the local media, the three men were all bikers, so they used Google Maps for navigation on motorcycles.
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