In this case, incorrect instructions from the web mapping application seem to have proved fatal.
Title is misleading. Bridge was damaged by flooding. Use of google maps appears to be speculation. There is no clarity in the article on whether enough time had elapsed for officials or google to know about the damage.
“I drove into the fucking lake”
Many years ago, in a very large city, my friends GPS took us to a business address that was on the wrong side of the highway (west side) and expected us to turn into an empty field, down a steep slope. No roads were ever there. When in fact the real address was on the east side. Funny, but a waste of time.
Here is the relevant legal from Google Maps TOS:
Actual Conditions; Assumption of Risk. When you use Google Maps/Google Earth’s map data, traffic, directions, and other content, you may find that actual conditions differ from the map results and content, so exercise your independent judgment and use Google Maps/Google Earth at your own risk. You’re responsible at all times for your conduct and its consequences.
So putting the legal aside, a lot of traffic data that Google gets is from other Google Maps users or Waze users. So I only fault Google if they actually got updated data and they didn’t update the map.
Why do people just blindly trust directions?
Also, was the construction clearly marked? Seems like you’d have to ignore some clear signs that a bridge was under construction.
Sounds more like local construction management dropped the ball and the road wasn’t blocked off properly, so they’re using Google as a scapegoat to hide their failure.
Reading a different article, the bridge used to connect but washed out earlier this year and is having that section rebuilt. It also sounds like there is little to no warning or barriers that the bridge is closed. If that’s the case, and the men were apparently driving across it at night so not good visibility, it sounds like most of the blame should be on the construction company making repairs. Sure, Google Maps should be updated, but obvious warnings and barriers will notify all drivers.
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?
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.
I know it’s not good to generalize, but this was in India. Indians in cars have NO sense of self preservation.
