Google Maps ensures chaos: false closures in NRW and Rhein-Main!

Google Maps ensures chaos: false closures in NRW and Rhein-Main!

Frankfurt, Deutschland - On May 29, 2025, a mistake was reported in Google Maps, which caused great confusion on the streets in Germany. Users of the app reported incorrectly displayed closures in many large cities, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia and in the Rhine-Main area between Frankfurt and Mannheim. According to SWR3 Almost all of the blocked blocks do not exist.

The affected cities also include Hamburg, Berlin and Frankfurt, where numerous road sections were marked as blocked on the Ascension Day. However, the police in Hamburg, Frankfurt and Mainz could not confirm the alleged closures, which increased uncertainty among drivers. In parts of Belgium and the Netherlands, too, false information was reported, as well as Tagesschau reported.

Unclear causes of the disorders

The causes of the problem remain unclear. It has not yet been certain whether it is a technical error on Google or a possible hacker attack. Users are asked to report errors displayed by Google Maps, which are then checked. Google has explained that the information on maps from third-party providers, public sources and user inputs come, and points out that they usually offer a solid basis for their map material.

This is not the first incident of this kind. As early as May 2023, motorway tunnels in Thuringia were mistakenly displayed as closed, which was corrected after a complaint from the police. This raises questions about the reliability of GPS-controlled navigation systems, which have recently been held responsible for disorders and traffic chaos.

consequences for traffic safety

A comprehensive study by the University of St. Gallen has shown that navigation systems often lead to traffic jams, chaos and accidents. Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians often rely blindly on the route recommendations of their GPS systems, while insufficient information about road conditions or security risks increase the risk. Between 2010 and 2023, more than 90 incidents were documented in which false navigation instructions led to traffic problems, as the NZZ

In this context, it is often criticized that local adjustments or bending bans are not sufficient to improve traffic safety. The study therefore recommends adapting the algorithms of applications such as Google Maps in order to better inform users in the future and to be able to make safe decisions.

The situation around Google Maps shows how important reliable information is for traffic safety and that users should always take on personal responsibility to minimize possible risks.