Three men in India tragically died after following Google Maps directions that led them to drive off an unfinished bridge (reported by The Economic Times).
The bridge, which crossed the Ramganga River, had been damaged during a flood months earlier, and parts of it were still under construction. The men were traveling from Gurugram to Bareilly at night and didn’t notice the bridge ended abruptly, causing them to fall.
Local officials confirmed the men were using Google Maps when the accident happened. Footage of the scene shows people looking over the edge of the unfinished bridge where the car had fallen.
The victims’ families are upset, saying the road should have been blocked off and that Google Maps should not have shown the bridge as complete.
This isn’t the first time Google Maps has been blamed for an accident. In 2022, the family of a driver in North Carolina sued Google after he followed the app’s directions and drove off a collapsed bridge that had been down for years.
In this recent case, the construction company is being criticized for allowing cars onto the unfinished bridge.
However, people are also asking whether Google should be held responsible for the deaths since their maps showed the bridge was safe to drive on.
A Google spokesperson expressed sympathy for the families and said they are working with authorities to investigate.
Experts also warned that GPS apps like Google Maps can sometimes direct people onto dangerous or remote paths, especially in hiking or wilderness areas.
Future with it:
While these apps are helpful, they don’t always have the latest information about road conditions or dangers like construction. This accident shows the need for better updates and safety measures, like roadblocks, to stop people from getting hurt.
As technology improves, it’s important for both tech companies and governments to make sure apps don’t lead people into dangerous situations. The future of navigation apps needs both good technology and safety checks.