'Not Our Fault'- Says Google On Woman Driving Audi Into Creek
In a recent incident, we saw a woman's Audi Q3 SUV falling into a water-filled ditch in Mumbai. Soon after the unfortunate incident, the driver said that she was following the on-screen instructions from the Google Maps app and added that it asked her to not take Belapur's Bay bridge, eventually leading to the accident. Days after the incident, Google has now issued a statement on the same.
The tech giant has now clarified that the route that the woman's referring to, is 'not mapped for navigation' and the app could not have suggested the route or asked the driver to drive straight into the Dhruvatara Jetty. “We wish to clarify that the road under the bridge is not mapped for navigation in Google Maps, and our internal review confirms that Maps did not recommend a route through it."- said the Google spokesperson.
Talking to The Telegraph, the spokesperson added "The only route Google Maps provides in this area is through the Belapur Bridge over the Panvel Creek. We built Google Maps with safety and reliability in mind and will continue to focus on delivering a high-quality navigation experience to people everywhere."
Clearly, the tech giant has ruled out the possibility of a Maps error. This is likely a case of human error. It further advised to not drive fast, especially in adverse weather conditions. It also asks users to double-check before taking a turn.
Google's clarification has reassured many on the abilities and reliability of the Maps app. The navigation app is used by billions of users and has high-precision maps of most areas. In the Indian context, it continues to have very strong foothold and delivers much better results than Apple Maps- its strongest global competitor, especially outside major cities and metros.
Revisiting The Incident
The lady involved in this case has been identified as Shweta Sharma, a resident of Kharghar. She was going to Ulwe from the Belapur area at night, when the mishap occurred. It was raining heavily, and could have contributed to the SUV falling into the creek. The lady was alone in the SUV.
After the accident, the woman claimed that she was instructed by Google Maps to refrain from taking the Belapur Bay bridge. She reportedly said that she followed the on-screen instructions and ended up falling into the ditch. Since it was raining heavily in the area, the ditch had a high water level in it. The lady, however, got immediate help. She was pulled out of the SUV by the marine security officials who were stationed nearby. The local police force also took part in the rescue operations. Later, a crane was used to recover the sinking SUV.
Improper Use Of Google Maps Is Common!
In this case, the real cause seems to be the improper use of the Maps app. Many tend to rely completely on the on-screen navigation and stay ignorant of their immediate surroundings. To be safe on our roads, we should always possess high situational awareness and have a good presence of mind.
When the weather conditions are bad- like the heavy rainfall in this case- the risk only shoots up. These are the situations in which one should exercise extra caution and have quicker reflexes.
As can be seen in the video, the heavy downpour had limited the visibility in Navi Mumbai, and the area near the creek was quite confusing. It had a lot of flooded patches. The driver might have confused the creek for a submerged patch of road and possibly tried to wade through.