Google can get you KILLED

 

It's that time of year. Monsoons have begun in parts of the state, and we HOPE they're headed our way. Road closures due to flooding or accidents abound. In an area like I live in northwest Arizona, that can mean very long (50 miles or more) detours to get home. But NOT obeying the road closure is a certain recipe for disaster. Following Google's 'alternate routing' can be even worse. 

My husband was on the way home from Seligman to Kingman today. There was, sadly, a traffic fatality that closed westbound I-40. Google re-routed him along the 'fastest' route, which would have taken him down 30 miles of unmaintained dirt roads, which are mostly passable in a high-profile vehicle when it isn't raining--key word there is mostly. Google did put the warning I put in the photo above in a TINY window below the route. (see photo above) My husband was fine--he's a local so he truly knew his options and didn't choose to go that way. 

Another story proving that Google is out to get you KILLED. 3 years ago, we had a super-heavy snowfall (2+feet in about 18 hours) that closed I-40 through the canyons near where we live due to ice. A professional, hired driver was delivering an articulated bus (can you think of a more ungainly vehicle?) from somewhere east of here to Los Angeles. He made it all the way to the beginning of the canyon closure on I-40 and saw the Interstate was closed. He Googled his alternate route, and apparently forgot to look out his windshield, driving 3 miles down a steep, primitive dirt road (covered with 2' of snow over ice) before he slid off part-way into a canyon. That story had a happy ending, as the neighbors were stunned to see a BUS on these primitive roads and checked on the driver. He was rescued and kept warm, a local heavy-equipment contractor did a bus rescue and road repair that the bus company paid for, and all was well. BUT -- what if there were no nearby neighbors, as is more common on these rural roads? This driver would likely have had health consequences (frostbite comes to mind as a mild one) before he could have walked to safety in that weather. It ALL could have been avoided if the driver had LOOKED out his windshield and evaluated where he was going rather than following his phone's Google directions. 

So, yes, Google Maps is helpful. But, NO, it should not be blindly followed and replace the basic decision-making every driver needs to make behind the wheel. If you're driving a highway vehicle (okay, with some exceptions for those who know conditions/road/how to drive on dirt/where they're going) it doesn't belong on a primitive dirt road. Keep it safe out there!!