I don't know India. But I can confirm that google maps in Mexico and Central America hallucinates roads that aren’t there, sends you into restricted areas, and will happily send you down the craziest ungraded road that a lifted Jeep would struggle with. You never just follow it blindly.
Google Maps leads three men to death as car plunges from incomplete bridge
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Re: Google Maps leads three men to death as car plunges from incomplete bridge
#12It's my sincere hope that India one day can drop the dependence on Google maps for a local alternative. Google has little incentive to get this right there, as they can really only monetize the product in cities.
This issue may be amplified by the heavy seasonal pollution which reduces visibility substantially
Re: Google Maps leads three men to death as car plunges from incomplete bridge
#13What kind of civil authority doesn't block the entrance of a bridge that's under (re)construction?
Expecting Google to keep abreast of worldwide road damage is a bit of a stretch.
Re: Google Maps leads three men to death as car plunges from incomplete bridge
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
This happened at night, on an unlit road. You don’t have to blame google maps, but there is some responsibility on the transportation authority to mark a closed or dangerous road
The road was lit by the car’s headlights. If they were going too fast to stop when an obstacle becomes illuminated and visible they should slow down or use the high beams.
The problem was that there wasn’t an obstacle. In the dark a bridge abruptly ending is going to look very similar to the bridge curving downward after the peak, and the latter is a much more common occurrence.
Re: Google Maps leads three men to death as car plunges from incomplete bridge
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
The road was lit by the car’s headlights. If they were going too fast to stop when an obstacle becomes illuminated and visible they should slow down or use the high beams.
I think it's a bit unrealistic to assume that people will correctly interpret "the road up ahead disappears" as an obstacle as quickly and at the same distance as they would see more common obstacles like something sitting in the road.
Also, even for changes that appear flush with the road-surface, it's probably easier for nighttime headlights to reveal a transition to dirt or grass, versus a yawning void that may resemble fresh asphalt or a big water puddle.
Re: Google Maps leads three men to death as car plunges from incomplete bridge
#16Does India have less rigorous people in charge?
India's civil institutions have more growing to do, certainly.
Re: Google Maps leads three men to death as car plunges from incomplete bridge
#17It's my sincere hope that India one day can drop the dependence on Google maps for a local alternative. Google has little incentive to get this right there, as they can really only monetize the product in cities. This issue may be amplified by the heavy seasonal pollution which reduces visibility substantially
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Re: Google Maps leads three men to death as car plunges from incomplete bridge
#18What kind of civil authority doesn't block the entrance of a bridge that's under (re)construction? Expecting Google to keep abreast of worldwide road damage is a bit of a stretch.
The update of google maps for construction projects is still pretty pathetic.
I don't know if it is a lack of inability for US states to do the paperwork/updates, or if google maps isn't incorporating the updates fast enough. I strongly suspect it is falling between the cracks at the state/local level.
Re: Google Maps leads three men to death as car plunges from incomplete bridge
#19Remember: Eyes on the road.
This happened at night, on an unlit road. You don’t have to blame google maps, but there is some responsibility on the transportation authority to mark a closed or dangerous road
Don't drive at night on unknown roads in a country with poor infrastructure - is a good general rule to live by.
Re: Google Maps leads three men to death as car plunges from incomplete bridge
#20I don't know India. But I can confirm that google maps in Mexico and Central America hallucinates roads that aren’t there, sends you into restricted areas, and will happily send you down the craziest ungraded road that a lifted Jeep would struggle with. You never just follow it blindly.
Was in San Salvador, El Salvador not long ago and it seemed as though google Maps was straight up hallucinating eating establishments. Walked around a bunch trying to find spots for lunch that were in the map but there was nothing of the sort at the given addresses / locations. There were even pictures of legit looking places, was quite confusing.