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Three Men Die After Google Maps Reportedly Told Them to Drive Over an Unfinished Bridge (gizmodo.com)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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In this case, incorrect instructions from the web mapping application seem to have proved fatal.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Let's assume the bridge just got washed out, and we are the first car to discover this. It can't be the fault of the construction company, it can't be the fault of the municipal authority. You could potentially make a case that whoever originally designed the bridge is at fault, but ultimately, it's up to the driver to be aware of hazards and be safe.

For a ridiculous example- Google is telling you to drive straight ahead. There's a small child in the way. But Google told you to go straight ahead, so you do. Can you say Google is at fault for that?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

If the road had just washed out you might have a point, but the bridge has been out for months; this car was not the first to discover it. The road is closed but it seems that in the months that the road has been closed and under repair either no barricades were put up to alert drivers to this fact or they were removed. Driving at night on a dark road it becomes difficult to tell the road is out until it’s too late. Even still, as close as the car is to the end of the bridge it looks like they tried to stop, but were too late.

The article seems to want to blame Google Maps while the family is blaming local authorities and the construction company. If Google was aware the road was out and still routed them over the bridge that would be a problem, but if no one bothered to put up a barricade I doubt anyone thought to notify Google. No one would reasonably blame a paper map for not being updated, and a digital map is only as good as the most recent update.

The driver is responsible to be alert to avoid dangers. If no warning to a danger is provided and the danger is not obvious, it’s hard to blame the driver.