Headlining most online news portals today is the news of a Maruti WagonR that fell into a river in UP, from an incomplete bridge, killing three. Many blame Google Maps for the mishap and says it showed the bridge that was under construction, as the fastest way to go from Navadia to Khallpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh: In Bareilly, three people died when their car, using Google Maps for directions, fell into the Ramganga River from an under-construction bridge. The bridge’s incomplete section caused the accident pic.twitter.com/QBwCEKqDBz
— IANS (@ians_india) November 24, 2024
The unfortunate incident took place on November 24, and the taxi cab ( that appears to be a Maruti WagonR CNG ) was travelling from Bareilly to Dataganj. It had three occupants- two passengers now identified as Amit and Vivek and the driver.
Both of them were from Imadpur in Farrukhabad. They had set out to attend a wedding and allegedly followed Google Maps for the fastest route and ended up plunging into the Ramganga river.
The accident occurred at around 10 am. Locals from around rushed to the scene and the cops too reached without delay. Unfortunately, the victims could not be saved. The Bareilly Police has given out an outline of the incident. This, however, doesn’t have any mention of the exact cause or about the alleged reliance on Google Maps.
थाना फरीदपुर, बरेली क्षेत्रान्तर्गत निर्माणधीन पुल से एक कार के गिरने, जिसमें कार सवार 03 व्यक्तियो की मृत्यु हो जाने की सूचना पर की जा रही कार्यवाही के सम्बन्ध में क्षेत्राधिकारी फरीदपुर बरेली की बाइट।#UPPolice pic.twitter.com/phDGUsPPNz
— Bareilly Police (@bareillypolice) November 24, 2024
A few locals and netizens say that the driver choosing Google Maps to find the fastest route should have misled them to the broken bridge. To be also noted is how this bridge got to its present shape. Early this year, a flood in the area had made it collapse and become the broken/incomplete bridge that would kill three in November the same year.
Is Google Maps Really To Be Blamed?
Does Google Maps really lead us to the broken bridge if we are travelling from Navadia to Khallpur? To find out first hand, we did a quick check by adding these as the origin and destination. Upon careful inspection, we get to see that it doesn’t show the alleged route in satellite view. An alternative with similar ETA can be seen.
But, while using the normal mode, the app shows the bridge in Red, with multiple ‘-‘ signs in between. These, instead of saying that the bridge is broken or not in use, could suggest ‘extensive traffic congestion’ or ‘road blocks’ to some – a UI issue.
In other words, it can be confusing for users. Maybe this could have to the deceased driver taking the route. He might have been surprised to see the bridge deserted even when the app said just the opposite. The thick layer of fog that existed at the place, would have only made things worse.
Book road contractor for negligence
The real culprit here is the lack of physical warning signs, blockades, or barricades at the entrance of the bridge that would have warned people of the danger it packs and made them refrain from entering it. The lack of such on-ground mechanisms is a severe miss from the government/ authorities or the contractor responsible for the section in question.
On personal grounds, we feel it is the duty of the contractor more than anyone else’s, to have blocked the entrance to the bridge. Active construction of roads and bridges are already underway in many parts of the country as we speak. The government has lately been keen on developing top-quality infrastructure across states and districts. Driving amidst active construction can be challenging, and we’d recommend you to be extra-cautious while doing so, especially during night drives.
What Google can do better?
While Google should consider improving the Maps UI/ UX to accommodate better clarity around potentially hazardous road scenarios such as this, authorities should work towards implementing more physical and on-ground mechanisms to regulate traffic and warn drivers. Factors such as fog should also be taken into account while designing such a system.
The post 3 Dead After Car Falls Off Incomplete Bridge In UP, Google Maps To Blame? first appeared on Cartoq.
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