Buzz
Since the arrival of GPS satellite navigation systems, drivers have become increasingly dependent on these devices to reach their destinations. Gone are the days of meticulously planning a road trip using only paper maps and navigational expertise.
Okay, maybe we weren't all as skilled at navigating as Christopher Columbus. The truth is, most journeys guided by maps often led to heated arguments over which turn to take and where the next spot to make a U-turn was.
There's no denying that GPS has made life simpler. In fact, it may have even saved a few relationships. But is there a hidden danger in switching off our critical thinking and letting the GPS take over? What happens when it fails us? Not necessarily by providing wrong information, but by being too accurate.
GPS does such a flawless job of calculating the fastest route from point A to point B that it sometimes leads us down questionable roads and into bizarre situations, occasionally with disastrous results.
10. Tragic Death After GPS Leaves Mother and Son Stranded
In the summer of 2009, 28-year-old nurse Alicia Sanchez and her six-year-old son were driving through the sweltering, barren expanse of Death Valley National Park in eastern California when their GPS directed them onto a secluded road. A week later, a park ranger discovered their Jeep Cherokee 32 kilometers (20 miles) away, stuck deep in the sand. “SOS” was scrawled in medical tape across the window.
Exhausted and severely dehydrated, Sanchez collapsed into the park ranger’s arms, while her son’s lifeless body remained slumped in the front seat. The two had survived for days on bottled water, Pop-Tarts, and cheese sandwiches, but tragically, the boy had died two days prior to her rescue.
9. Japanese Tourists Drive Their Vehicle Into the Ocean
In 2012, three Japanese tourists vacationing in Australia embarked on a road trip to North Stradbroke Island. Trusting their GPS, they believed they could drive directly from the mainland to the island. Unfortunately, the GPS neglected to mention the 15 kilometers (9 miles) of water and mud between the two locations.
While driving their Hyundai Getz rental car from Queensland, the trio began to notice the solid gravel road turning into mud. Despite the sinking sensation, they pressed on, confident their GPS would guide them to solid ground. They continued another 500 meters (1,640 feet) before the car got stuck up to its axles in mud.
Things only worsened when the tide began to rise, forcing them to abandon their vehicle. Just four hours later, their car was left submerged in 2 meters (6.6 feet) of water.
8. Woman Shot Dead After Following GPS Through Brazilian Favela
In October 2015, 70-year-old Regina Murmura and her 69-year-old husband Francisco set out for a relaxing beach day. Using a GPS app for directions, they headed towards a beach in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro. However, unbeknownst to them, the app directed them into the dangerous, gang-controlled Caramujo favela.
Their car was soon caught in a barrage of gunfire from local drug traffickers. Mrs. Murmura was tragically killed, while her husband miraculously survived. Desperately, he drove her to the nearest hospital, but it was too late.
7. Driver Finds Himself Teetering On the Edge of a Cliff After Following GPS Directions
In 2009, 43-year-old Robert Jones from England came dangerously close to plunging to his death off a 30-meter (100 ft) cliff after blindly following his GPS instructions. Directed off the main road, he drove down a steep and narrow path before realizing the peril and stopping just in time.
Police responded to reports of a BMW teetering on the edge of a cliff along Bacup Road in Todmorden, West Yorkshire. Jones, a professional driver, explained that he relied heavily on his GPS for directions in his job. He followed the GPS even when it directed him onto a footpath, confusing it for a road. Despite denying the charges in court, Jones was fined nearly £900 for driving without due care and attention.
6. Woman Dies After Husband Drives Off a Bridge
In March 2015, 64-year-old Iftikhar Hussain and his 51-year-old wife, Zohra, left their Chicago home to visit family in Indiana. While following GPS directions in their Nissan Sentra, they encountered a bridge that had been closed for repairs since 2009.
Despite the presence of numerous barricades, orange cones, and ‘Road Closed’ signs, Iftikhar pressed on, seemingly trusting the GPS over the visible warnings. The car plunged off the bridge, falling more than 11 meters (37 feet) and igniting in flames shortly after impact.
Miraculously, Iftikhar survived the fall and managed to escape the vehicle, but his wife was not as fortunate. Trapped in the wreckage, Zohra couldn't escape and tragically perished in the ensuing fire.
5. Swedish Couple Ends Up in the Wrong Capri
In 2009, a middle-aged Swedish couple embarked on a romantic getaway to the Italian island of Capri. However, their GPS led them 640 kilometers (400 miles) away to the industrial northern town of Carpi in the province of Modena, Emilia-Romagna.
The couple realized their mistake only after asking the local tourist office staff for directions to the island’s famous “Blue Grotto.”
4. Man Goes on a Fishing Trip and Never Returns
In the summer of 2015, 69-year-old Silas Wrigley disappeared after embarking on a fishing trip to Oregon. After a week of searching, his truck and body were found along a remote dirt road. It's believed that he was misled by his truck's GPS.
Investigators examining Mr. Wrigley’s death suspect he may have missed a turnoff to Lake Owyhee and had to recalculate his GPS route, which ultimately led him down the isolated road where his truck and body were found.
3. GPS Shortcut Leads to Tragic Death on a Mountain
In March 2011, Albert and Rita Chretien left British Columbia in their Chevrolet Astro van, heading toward a convention in Las Vegas. Along the way, they decided to compare their planned route with the GPS and take what they thought would be a shortcut.
Unaware that GPS systems don't account for seasonal conditions, they soon found themselves on a dangerous, remote road through the desert mountains. After traveling 9 kilometers (6 miles), the road became impassable. Their car got stuck in the mud, leaving them stranded.
Despite their efforts to dig out and return to the road, they were unsuccessful. They decided to continue on foot, but unknowingly, they were headed in the wrong direction.
When Mrs. Chretien’s swollen knee gave out, they were forced to turn back. At this point, Mr. Chretien made the decision to go on alone. He bid his wife farewell and set off with the GPS. That would be the last time Rita saw her husband alive.
For nearly two months, Mrs. Chretien remained alone in the car. She read her Bible, rationed her food, and ate snow. After 49 days of isolation, she had resigned herself to dying alone in the wilderness. Ironically, it was on that very day that she was finally rescued.
In October 2012, more than a year and a half after he vanished, Mr. Chretien’s body was discovered. He had ascended roughly 730 meters (2,400 feet) in deep snow and was located about 11 kilometers (7 miles) west of his starting point.
He was no longer able to use the GPS because of the snow drifts and could not determine where the road was. He ended up climbing unnecessarily and was making his way to the peak of a mountain when he tragically passed away.
2. Three Women Follow GPS Into A Lake
In June 2011, three young women narrowly escaped a sinking Mercedes-Benz rental SUV after following their GPS down a boat launch and into Mercer Slough in Bellevue, Washington. The driver, unaware of the mistake, believed she was still on the road. Unfortunately, the GPS had led her down the boat launch, causing the SUV to crash into the lake.
All three women managed to escape without injury. However, the car was entirely submerged and had to be retrieved from the water by a tow truck.
1. Elderly Belgian Woman Takes a Detour to Zagreb
In January 2013, 67-year-old Belgian woman Sabine Moreau was reported missing by her son. She resurfaced two days later, 1,450 kilometers (901 miles) away in Zagreb, Croatia.
Her initial plan was to drive just 61 kilometers (38 miles) to Brussels to pick up a friend. But due to the directions given by her GPS, Mrs. Moreau ended up on a long detour. Along the way, she had to stop for fuel twice, caused a minor accident, and even spent the night sleeping in her car on the side of the road during her unexpected two-day journey.
