It turns out that technology cannot get it all correct and may sometime put you in serious trouble! A recent incident that occurred near the Denver International Airport, highlights a similar issue. So, when the passengers, were driving to the airport, they naturally relied on Google Maps for a reroute in order to avoid traffic jam. But the shortcut turned into a muddy mess and reportedly at least hundreds of Colorado drivers were stranded in an empty field. The video of this recent incident is going viral and people are baffled if they should depend on web mapping service. Twitter User's Concern Over Google Maps Feature Goes Viral, Google India Replies With a Cheeky Shayari.
There was a car crash in Peña Boulevard, Denver which created long traffic on the road and blocked access to the International Airport. People who were to board flights or pick up arriving travellers turned to Google Maps, if it could suggest any shortcut. It suggested a detour that was promising quicker duration to reach the destination. “I thought, ‘Maybe there’s a detour’ and pulled it up on Google Maps, and it gave me a detour that was half the time. It was 43 minutes initially, and it was going to be 23 instead—so I took the exit and drove where they told me to,” Connie Monsees told CNN, who was driving to pick her husband from the airport. Google Maps Shows Northern England School's Name as 'Prison & Hell On Earth!'
Watch Viral Video of Drivers Stuck in Muddy Field
But that reroute led her to a dirt road near the border of Denver and Aurora, as quoted by media outlets. And it was not just her, but hundreds of other passengers alike, who have taken the shortcut. At first, Monsees was not immediately concerned seeing other cars ahead. Then the road turned into a muddy open field, as there had been rains in the area for the past few days. The road was narrow and only allowed passage of one car at a time. The American news division, ABC reported to have found a knocked over “Road Closed” sign, but could not confirm if the area was closed for public use.
It is unclear why the GPS suggested the cars on that road. Following the incident, Google told Gizmodo, in an official statement “While we always work to provide the best directions, issues can arise due to unforeseen circumstances, such as when weather conditions affect the quality of roads. We encourage all drivers to follow local laws, stay attentive, and use their best judgement while driving.” Meanwhile, Monsees’ car has all-wheel drive, because of which she could get out of the muddy situation. She even helped and gave a lift to two other people who were to board their flights.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2019 01:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).