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Satellite Navigation Sends Drivers Over Cliff
posted by Satri
on Friday April 07, @10:12AM
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from the I-knew-I-should-have-not-believed-my-computer dept.
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from the I-knew-I-should-have-not-believed-my-computer dept.
redgeographics writes "According to this BBC article, drivers following satellite navigation systems through a village called Crackpot in North Yorkshire have been directed along a track at the edge of a 100ft cliff. The article mentions that one company supplying data for these navigation systems has already removed the offending road." This story is discussed by Slashdot. See also previously covered related stories below about other dangers of in-car navigation.
Related Stories
In-Car Navigation Systems Too Distracting? 1 comment
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Slashdot host a discussion about the distractiveness of in-car navigation systems. The slashdot summary: "A survey released by an insurance company shows that drivers with in-car navigation systems are more likely to lose concentration than drivers who unfold a map while driving. From the article: 'One in 10 motorists with navigation systems set off on their journeys without bothering to program their route, and more than half admitted that they then had to take their eyes off the road to input the details while driving. Nearly one in eight did not even bother to check out a route they were unfamiliar with and simply relied on the technology to get them to their destination.'" Additionally, VerySpatial tells us GPS and Driving also doesn't mix very well.
Reliable Directions and Data Sources 1 comment
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dct writes "NPR runs this story on inaccuracies (though they are apparently few) of major web mapping sites when giving direction because they depend on a single data provider. From the article: "A test of two other main map services besides MapQuest, Yahoo and Google, shows that all of them try to send drivers up the stairs. Since they all rely on the same road database company, NAVTEQ, for their road databases, the problem is duplicated on all the map sites.""
Technology: The Accuracy of Online Maps 9 comments
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The Cartography blog compares online maps and access their accuracy. After discouraging results, it is said: "All of this suggests that local knowledge can’t be beat which is why, perhaps, TeleAtlas has initiated an online map feedback tool to elicit such knowledge from its users. How will they determine what information they receive is correct and what is chaff sown by nasty competitors? It will be interesting to watch what happens - and if Navteq picks ups on a similar approach."
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