[dailydriver]

This is an experience wherein Google Maps took me through the untravelled road.

I had to reach Sringeri from Kolluru. The idea was to take the Agumbe ghat, stop at the Sunset View Point and reach the destination by 8-9 PM. In comes Mr. Murphy and throws a spanner in the form of a punctured tyre. Things went downwards and we got delayed everywhere. We were able able to leave Kolluru only by 10 PM.

The driver - a young chap in his early twenties- drove well, but was a devout follower of Don Quixote in terms of route knowledge. He would shoot first and then speak - specially at lonely intersections. It was then that Google Baba came to my help. I started using Google maps offline. No connectivity and hence no internet. I would first let the map set my location using GPS and would keep checking it as we moved along. Having identified the route to be taken, I could easily discern if we left the right track. But for this trick, we could easily have landed in Kundapur, Thirthahalli, Koppa or Karkala.

Thank you Google Maps!

So, everything rosy, right?

Well, that's an other story.

The same Google Maps had, earlier in the day, misguided us to a non-existent location when we wanted to go to Sridhara Ashrama,
Varadahalli, and had cost us almost an hour of our valuable time. The ubiquitous Indian Human GPS took us to the correct location later.

So, Google Maps could be a hit or a miss; akin to German cars .

[sudev]

Was part of convoy of twenty five cars going to Alsisar Palace for weekend stay. We stopped at Jhunjhunu for lunch and many people did not wait for all to start but headed out a bit earlier.

We settled the bills - no that's not why they left earlier it was Dutch and I was there cashier - and started about fifteen minutes later.

At Alsisar Palace we were surprised to be first. Thanks to Google.

If you type Alsisar it takes you to the edge of village and you can see the sign boards and follow to the Palace. BUT if you type Alsisar Mahal or Alsisar Palace then it takes you additional distance of 14km through small village roads and loops you back to the other side of same village. Time 33 minutes versus 1 hour 8 minutes.

[luvDriving]

While returning from Kihim on the 25th, we needed to drop a family to Mandwa Jetty since they were taking the ferry to Mumbai. After saying our good byes we set the destination as Pune and set off.

I don't know why this happened but google maps kept directing me towards a dead end road. The road ended at Revas jetty. Maybe google felt that taking that route was the fastest !

Shut down google and took a U turn to rejoin the correct route

[swissknife]

Originally Posted by luvDriving

While returning from Kihim on the 25th, we needed to drop a family to Mandwa Jetty since they were taking the ferry to Mumbai. After saying our good byes we set the destination as Pune and set off.

I don't know why this happened but google maps kept directing me towards a dead end road. The road ended at Revas jetty. Maybe google felt that taking that route was the fastest !

Shut down google and took a U turn to rejoin the correct route

Would it have been possible that you had set google maps to avoid ferries?

[dailydriver]

What if Google decides to take us through a watery road instead? An incident in Vermont, USA demonstrates how technology sans human discretion can lead to disasters.

A man blindly following his Waze GPS app has driven an SUV with two passengers on board into an icy lake in the northeastern state of Vermont... The trio – friends from out of state driving a borrowed car – escaped unharmed... The driver of the Jeep Compass followed the GPS directions, which advised to go straight, and upon following this he went down the boat ramp onto the ice...

The vehicle initially slid, but the ice on the surface of Lake Champlain quickly cracked and the Jeep sank.

After getting out of what could have been his watery grave, the driver would agree with Google spokesperson Julie Mossler's advice that while,

Waze maps are updated with millions of edits to adapt to real time road conditions daily, often making them the most accurate available.

people are advised

to keep their eyes on the road and use all environmental information available to them to make the best decisions as they drive.

Source

[vidyHyd]

Most of the experiences stated on this thread are interesting and I could relate to several. Having said that I am dependent on Google Maps and travelled over 10,000 km in the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the past 6 months. I would like to share my learnings (the hard way!) using examples.


Select Avoid ferries option

Settings-> Navigation -> Avoid ferries

In September 2017, I was driving in Telangana from Dharmapuri to Kaleswaram, Shiva temple. Picked the shortest route shown in Google Maps. After about an hour of travel, I was directed to a pot-holed road. It looked like a deviation from the main road and instinct said something is wrong, but blindly followed the instructions. The road started becoming worse and narrow. Finally reached a point (Arjunagutta) where Godavari river was in front of me. There were ferries to help me cross the river, but there is no way I could fit my car in the ferry. When I enquired someone from the village told me an alternate route via Manthani. This was a detour which added almost 3 hours to the trip.

Check the highway number (NH 16, NH 44…) and note that ETA gives you a decent idea about the condition of the road; If the average speed is below 40 kmph, the road condition could be bad

Research before the travel helps. If you are changing plans on the spur of the moment, unless you would like to adventure, follow the thumb rule of picking a highway that has the smallest number.

In October 2017, I was driving from Hornadu, Karnataka to Hyderabad. I had Darshan of Annapoorneshwari Amma around 5:00 pm and started my return journey to Hyderabad. Usually, I prefer traveling during daytime. The telecom service provider link was weak and I did not get any route options. Picked whatever Google Maps gave me and started driving. Within a few minutes on the Ghat section, it started raining. The roads were narrow and winding. The largest town I could find on the route around 9:00 pm was Chitradurga for the night halt.

Error in judgement - While the Ghat section was really pleasing to the eye and was a very good drive, I wanted to get on the Bangalore - Hyderabad road (NH 44) as early as possible, the next morning. Noticed that Ananthapur was not far about 160 km from Chitradurga, so picked up the shortest route given by Google Maps to Ananthapur and started driving. I was surprised by the time given to cover the distance - about 4 hours. This is a give away and instinctively felt that something is wrong, but once again blindly followed Google Maps. There was a stretch of about 30 km where they were laying the road, loose gravel and mud. It took over 1.5 hours to cover this stretch! It would have been much faster to hop onto AH 47 (Golden Quadrilateral) and then onto NH 44.

Download the map for the region of your travel - especially when the telecom signal is bad

I was driving from Pune to Shiv Mandir in Bhimshankar in the middle of August, 2017. Started around 6:00 am in the morning. The sky was overcast and it started drizzling. Picked the shortest route shown by Google Maps. After an hour on the highway, it took me into villages. It was a single road and found a few school children here and there, did not find any traffic. Thankfully there were road signs saying Bhimshankar. At one point, Google Maps asked me to take a left turn but road sign said right. The road shown by Google Maps was horrible, so decided to follow the road sign. Since I was far away from the city limits, lost data connection. Once I took the turn shown by the road sign lost my bearings in Google Maps. For about 20 - 30 kms, I didn’t have a clue where I was going. It looked like I was the only person going to the temple. There was obviously a better and wider road which is taken by most people, once I hit this road realised that I was in fact visiting the temple in peak season. Thankfully had a pretty good Darshan, but the drive and experience with Google Maps was special!

Google Maps with real-time updates is most useful in the cities, used it predominantly in Bangalore and Hyderabad, it helped me discover new routes and save tons of time in traffic. I use it always and can’t imagine driving without its aid. On a highway, better to do some research and you be the master of your drive. Happy driving!

[raghu13uk]

When Google Maps takes you to the road more walked and shopped!!

This happened to me few years back with Nokia's Here Maps, when it took me through one of Bangalore's street where even autos would hesitate to go. After this indecent I ditched my Nokia 1020.

This weekend (6th May), Google Maps decided to take the revenge on behalf of 1020!! (I don't know why).

We were coming back to home and suddenly my family decided to change the plan and asked me to go to a restaurant. I didn't know the route, hence took refuge to the Google Maps. Guess what? Google guided my tank (TUV300 AMT) through a route and before I realized I was in a street where even a nano can't take reverse. So, the only possible way out was forward.

My spatial memory said, 'this route might reach to Commercial Street'. So, there we reached. Obviously, Google wanted to teach me a lesson at a place, where I don't even dream of taking a two-wheeler.

I started to calculate the amount I may have to spend on the scratches/dents once I come out of this ordeal. Also, about the looks I am about to get from the people. Interestingly, the people, even the auto drivers were very friendly. No one yelled at me. More over they guided me to the better escape route. (In one of the video I change my path. Thanks to an auto driver).

I came out of that street without any scratch and not even brushing anything. I had a relief of winning an almost-lost match. (Even my family lauded my patience).

http://youtu.be/-21xfIDR-So

http://youtu.be/y2PFpb9ioNM

http://youtu.be/Ds0Zwp0nwL4

http://youtu.be/d0HqU31qtGM

I asked Google, "What's next"? It replied "Chikpet".

[KL01toKA03]

Nearly 100 cars got stuck after Google Maps leads them to a muddy field.

https://www.news18.com/news/tech/nea...ef=hp_ht_pos_7

[dhanushmenon]

Car follows Google maps and lands up in river!

The Kuthiran section of Kerala has been in news for quite some time for being traffic clogged.
On the night of 09 Nov 19, to avoid Kuthiran traffic jams, a family of five chose to use Google maps for guidance for an alternative route. Turns out they had quiet and adventurous journey. Google maps guided them through Ottapalam, Thiruvilvamala road to Pattikad near Trichur. (The grey non highlighted route on the image attached below)

They were taken through a river causeway. Being night, the occupants of the car did not notice the level of water. Subsequently, the car was swept away. All five swam to safety and no casualties.

http://https://www.manoramaonline.co...-in-river.html

[Warwithwheels]

Interesting thread! Google maps has always been my constant companion during long drives. However this one off incident has made me double check the route when travelling to unfamiliar locations especially at nights.

I drove down to bangalore a while back. Had to meet someone at whitefield and get back to electronics city. The time was around 10 pm.

Not being familiar with bangalore routes, I chose the route that was faster by a couple of minutes.

Guess the route? Sarajpur back roads via athebelle. That was the longest 20 minutes in my life. It was the most scariest road I have ever travelled. I looked super haunted.

Could any veterans from bangalore throw some light about the route? Is it something like the ghost town of bangalore?

[dailydriver]

When Google Maps takes you on roads NOT travelled:

TN man accuses Google Maps of creating problems in marital life, files complaint

For a 49-year-old man in Nagapattinam district's Mayiladuthurai, Google Maps has proven to be the splinter that could break his marriage apart and he won't stop short of taking the tech company to court over the matter.

With a complaint in hand on Thursday, R Chandrasekhar went up to the local police and demanded that action be taken against Google Maps for claiming that he had been in locations that he had never visited. According to his complaint, the fancy shop owner, has been subjected to emotional difficulties, family problems, familial violence and torture because of misinformation regarding his whereabouts on the app.

In his complaint, he states, "For the last few months, my wife has been constantly scanning the 'Your timeline' feature on Google Maps and refuses to let me sleep, as she questions where I was. She is constantly thinking about this, is getting affected and affecting the rest of the family too

On May 20, he says, the map depicted a graph to his wife consisting of places that he never visited leading to suspicions and problems in his marital and family life.

"I am unable to answer her questions. And my wife is not listening despite what family, relatives, our circle of friends and counsellors are saying. Despite several talks, she is refusing to listen. She believes Google over anything else. Google is causing strife in my family life. So I ask you to take action against Google and ensure justice for me. I also ask that Google give me compensation for causing so much strife," he adds.

Source

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by Warwithwheels

Could any veterans from bangalore throw some light about the route? Is it something like the ghost town of bangalore?

Try travelling from Whitefield to Airport in the night

We once took that road to drop a US employee to Airport, she had the shock of her life that very quickly the cityscape vanished and now our roads are sometimes blocked by chickens, meat for sale hanging just a few feet away from the car`s side window etc etc. There are places devoid of any direction sign boards, none that without google maps you wont reach the airport. The only plus side is that there is no need to pay toll!

Sometimes Gmaps will send you on a scout mission, to check if some less traveled road is still motorable - I have been on a few such missions unknowingly of course, thankfully they all were a visual treat for the most part.

Bangalore expanded so fast that people started taking roads through neighboring villages to cut travel time, sort of a ring road of their own and Gmaps faithfully made use of this.

[Reinhard]

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

Sometimes Gmaps will send you on a scout mission, to check if some less traveled road is still motorable - I have been on a few such missions unknowingly of course, thankfully they all were a visual treat for the most part.

In MH, Konkan is the area where GMaps does this to drivers. If its folks that love adventure / exploration & hilly/jungle roads - its a boon. For those who are nervous of secluded, lonely roads in dense forested areas, its quite an experience of a lifetime.

Once GMaps sent me on a "shorter route" near Dapoli town. Only that - it expected me to traverse a bridge on a wide river that only had vertical supports built & no horizontal slabs and road surface on them. As per the map - the road was complete alright. Had to travel back good 7-8 kms. But fun experience nonetheless. The villagers near that end-point were amused and asked me who told me this route was complete, while I was trying to do a U turn in their narrow lane. Took me a 6 point turn to go back!

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by Reinhard

The villagers near that end-point were amused and asked me who told me this route was complete, while I was trying to do a U turn in their narrow lane. Took me a 6 point turn to go back!

An all too familiar tale for us travelers

In my last outing to Vayanad, the maps saved 1.5 hours in travel time in comparison to a few other vehicles who decided to go on the main highway , but the roads it took us were just insane as well as desolate , surely scenic but barely motor-able at the peak of monsoon, not any monsoon but Kerala monsoon, oh boy. The driver in the vehicle that followed me would have fully appreciated his decision to buy himself an Ecosport when replacing their old sedan.

[Amsdoc]

I have had loads of google maps moments in multiple countries. One of the best was when we did a crazy road trip from Pune to Gir in a CNG Santro. After multiple CNG stops it had taken us almost 20 hours to reach Gir. it was around 1 am and Google maps brings us to the other side of Gir forest to where we wanted to go. It kept showing us that the only road was straight ahead and all we could see was a rocky path. Other option it showed was a huge detour all the way back. Luckily I had a Nokia phone at that time and Nokia maps showed us an alternative route which was manageable. Next morning we found out the route wanted to take us went right through the forest past checkposts and involved 2 river crossings.