Irritation by Google Maps: False motorway closures across the country!

Irritation by Google Maps: False motorway closures across the country!

Hamburg, Deutschland - On Ascension Day, there was considerable confusion in German traffic when Google Maps gave false information on motorway closures in several major cities. Cities such as Hamburg, Berlin and Frankfurt were affected. However, the police in Hamburg, Frankfurt, Mainz and in the regions of North Rhine-Westphalia confirmed none of the displayed closures. This led to uncertainty among drivers and on the other hand to a critical look at the reliability of navigation systems.

According to information from KStA.de , not only German cities were affected, but also parts of the Netherlands and Belgiians. Google has announced that the information has been checked and asking users to report any errors. The data on Google Maps come from third -party providers, public sources and the inputs of the users themselves, which explains the challenge of the accuracy of the advertisement.

repeated problems with Google Maps

incorrectly displayed closures are not a new phenomenon for Google Maps. It was only at the beginning of May that the Autobahn tunnel navigation system in Thuringia indicated as closed, which led to confusion and complaints to the police. After intensive examination and complaint, Google corrected the navigation announcements, such as Spiegel.de

The recurring problems with the navigation systems raise questions about their effects on traffic. A study by the University of St. Gallen emphasizes that GPS-controlled systems often lead to traffic jams, chaos and dangerous traffic situations. Between 2010 and 2023, 90 incidents were documented in the American news database Lexis Nexis, in which NAVI instructions led to traffic disruptions. A third of these incidents concerned trucks that were directed on unsuitable streets, which also reinforces the problem.

The consequences for traffic safety

The misconduct by navigation systems can bring drastic consequences. For example, an incident occurred in 2015 when an American fell from a bridge because she ignored warning signs and followed her GPS. In London, pedestrians are the likelihood of being injured on side streets, around 17 percent higher than on main streets, which illustrates the dangerousness of the detours. This chaos also became clear during the Rad World Cup in Zurich, as incorrect navigation instructions led to traffic problems.

The study also criticizes that local adjustments such as bending bans often only lead to a shift in the problem. In order to improve security, adjustments to the Google Maps algorithms and the provision of additional information about security risks and environmental costs are required. The aim should be to enable users to decide which routes they choose.