“turn right”. If Google says so, you’ll always have to scratch your head. Do you really have to turn, is there a curve in the road or is there another route? Google Maps is useful for getting anywhere, but it’s a dangerous tool for getting nowhere, an Australian family has learned.

Australia

Losing your way in the Netherlands or Belgium so that you get lost for days is almost brilliant. Outback Australia? Losing it there is a piece of cake. And die, so always have enough water and food in your car when you get in the car in Australia. Plus, a good old street book is probably not too extravagant, because you don’t have to experience what an Australian family experienced.

A 27-year-old woman with her two children, aged two and four, and her 50-year-old mother were getting into the car to travel from Queensland to Adelaide. Car evolution. Nothing too exciting, more Australians do it, but after leaving the Knockundra Hotel, nothing was heard from the group very soon.

Google Maps

They were stuck in no man’s land with their SUV. That’s because a 27-year-old woman who drove by Google Maps followed with little enthusiasm. Google Maps thought it best not to take the highway and directed the woman down a dirt road. But the car did not agree. The car got stuck because there was no cell phone signal. At this point the women decided to go for a walk with the children, but after several hours of unsuccessful efforts they returned to the car.

There was hope that someone would find the car (and therefore the family). They even put the letters ‘Help’ on the floor along with the clothes. And that was a good thing, because eventually they were found by a helicopter. They had no food and water, but they were all rescued in time. Fortunately, it could have gone completely wrong.

Be responsible

Is it Google Maps’ fault? Not really: I decided to take the quickest route to the final destination. It is up to the driver to see exactly what the route is and assess whether the car is suitable for the route. Although a situation like this in the Netherlands or Belgium is unlikely to happen so soon, sometimes we have to deal with other Google Maps tensions. For example, Google Maps doesn’t always know exactly what a cycle path is, and doesn’t always warn against steep areas like Maastricht and Valkenburg. So always decide for yourself whether you are on the right path or a detour that could cost you a few more minutes is not the best.

Thanks for the tip, Ronald!