Google apologizes for sending drivers on road to nowhere

[webfact]

Photo : The Washington Post

 

Google has issued an apology after sending some drivers using Google Maps to travel between Los Angeles and Las Vegas on dangerous desert road detours, at least one of which turned out to be a road to nowhere that left people stranded. 

 

The US media reported that the I-15 corridor between Southern California and Vegas is a popular one, especially during the Thanksgiving holidays, which is why Shelby Easler and her family took that route to watch the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday, Nov. 18.

 

Everything went great, according to Easler, until they used a Google Maps detour on their way back to L.A. to avoid a dust storm that shut down portions of the 15 Freeway on Sunday, Nov. 19.

 

“We thought it would be safer to avoid the dust storm,” she told KTLA’s Shelby Nelson. “So, it was like a dust storm warning on this side, then an alternative route that would save you 50 minutes.”

 

Skipping a high wind event in the Mojave Desert seemed like a good idea, so Easler’s brother opted for the app’s alternate route, which took them on a path in the remote Nevada desert.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2023-12-02

 

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[Foek]

Have to many roads to nowhere here , google is really f...ing up lately

[mamypoko]

Well we know where we're going
But we don't know where we've been

[KhunLA]

3 minutes ago, mamypoko said:

Well we know where we're going
But we don't know where we've been

We know ...

[xylophone]

"We're on the road to nowhere.............". Wasn't that by "Talking Heads?".

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, mamypoko said:

Well we know where we're going
But we don't know where we've been

I know where I came from, and I've been trying to get back there all my life.

[Paradise Pete]

I made that drive many times back in the 90s. For most of the way you might as well be on Mars. There is a short turn-off named Zzyzx Road. I had to pee, and thought it was quite amusing to take a whiz on Zzyzx Road.

 

 

[bendejo]

18 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I know where I came from, and I've been trying to get back there all my life.

Your poor mum!

 

 

[sirineou]

19 hours ago, mamypoko said:

Well we know where we're going
But we don't know where we've been

 

[gomangosteen]

There's an anomaly in Google Maps between Chanthaburi city to our home 15km west.

 

Each time, same place about 4km on the highway I get told "make a U-turn in 50 metres" which would take me back to the city, then seconds later it re-routes to the correct direction. 

 

No apology provided!

 

Can't explain it ... and U-turn not an option either with a 2m wide built up median for a further km.

Edited December 3, 2023 by gomangosteen

[Grumpy one]

20 hours ago, xylophone said:

"We're on the road to nowhere.............". Wasn't that by "Talking Heads?".

Is google trying to produce maps from songs

Can't wait for " Highway to hell "

[xylophone]

On 12/3/2023 at 9:19 AM, Grumpy one said:

Is google trying to produce maps from songs

Can't wait for " Highway to hell "

It's not far from me!!!

[Grumpy one]

15 hours ago, xylophone said:

It's not far from me!!!

Every road in Thailand is in the running for the road to hell 

[ballpoint]

Other music related GPS providers aren't any better though.

 

Using the U2 one, the streets have no name, and I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

The Bon Jovi one says every road is an open highway, and keeps insisting we're half way there.

And the Bonny Tyler one constantly tells you to turn around, and every now and then it falls apart.