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A recent tragedy in India, in which three men followed Google Maps directions to an unfinished bridge (and a fatal fall), raises questions about our reliance on modern navigation systems. This event, which occurred last Saturday night, is part of a series of incidents where GPS errors have had serious consequences. As it happened, the unfinished bridge had been partially washed away by a flood months earlier and reconstruction work had only just begun. Despite this, Google Maps showed the bridge as complete, misleading drivers.
Around the world, many similar incidents have been reported where GPS systems have misled drivers, sometimes with fatal results. A 2023 study published in ScienceDirect finds that GPS navigation errors are responsible for more than 200,000 traffic accidents each year in the United States. Experts point out that these errors can result from interference or outdated mapping data, as was the case recently for the three Indian victims.
Night, fog and dependence on GPS…
Regarding the recent tragic case in India, if the individuals (who were traveling from Gurugram to Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh) did not see the end of the bridge in time, it is probably because they were driving at night with a dense fog. The three men died at the foot of the structure, in the Ramganga River. The oldest of them was only 35 years old, while the other two were never able to celebrate their 31st birthday.
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Google expressed its condolences and pledged to cooperate with authorities to fully investigate the accident. However, the question of responsibility remains thorny. Legal experts note that although users can bring negligence lawsuits against GPS manufacturers, these cases are rarely successful due to the complexity of navigation errors, Bloomberg Law reports.
The vehicle at the foot of the bridge, surrounded by curious people who arrived on the scene in the morning. © Surya Reddy via
GPS systems, although very useful, have certain flaws, and these are mainly linked to the fact that map updates, although they now take place in real time, are still not fast and reliable enough to take into account environmental hazards.
As for signal quality and location accuracy, which can also prove dangerous in certain circumstances, technology experts have proposed various improvements to enhance user safety. For example, the adoption of the GPS L5 signal for land vehicles – currently dedicated to aviation, with around twenty satellites around the globe – could significantly improve accuracy without requiring major modifications to existing infrastructure.
Towards safer navigation
To prevent future tragedies, other safety measures should be implemented. Among the recommendations are more regular updates (especially for navigation maps integrated into vehicles) and the integration of additional sensors to detect anomalies on the roads, specifies the CISA in a 2024 report concerning the security of GPS systems. Some experts also suggest adding alerts to the GPS device’s screen in the event of a recent major event that could affect the route. Indeed, such a measure might have spared the three victims of the tragic incident in India.
The legal implications of these incidents are also evolving. Shipping companies are encouraged to adopt more rigorous practices to minimize product liability risks. These incentives often come from legal pressures and increasing regulations. The families of the victims of the recent event, like those of previous incidents linked to Google Maps, are painfully calling for responsibility and concrete measures to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
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