Sardinia Island, Ogliastra Region
Salvatore Corrias, mayor of Baunei on the island of Sardinia, believes Google Maps has misdirected tourists and sent them driving into danger. Such rescues are costly, so Corrias has filed a complaint with the Internet Ministry to try to block the Google Maps signal on the island. "We have written to Google hundreds of times, so this time we have no choice but to file a legal complaint to block it," he said.
The mayor also asked managers of hotels, museums and restaurants on the island to warn tourists not to rely on navigation apps and to use paper maps instead. Local authorities also put up signs stating that some roads should only be traveled by 4x4 vehicles.
A Google Maps representative said they are working with local authorities to address the issue. They are also looking into ways to better warn drivers on similar roads.
Police put up signs warning people not to follow Google Maps directions.
In fact, Baunei is not the only town to have problems caused by GPS. Several towns in the Alps have also filed a petition to prevent skiers from trying to reach remote mountain areas and ending up lost.
A driver in the US got stuck in a muddy field in Denver after trusting a navigation app and taking a shortcut to the airport. In 2017, instead of taking passengers to the correct address, the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, Australia, the navigation app directed them to the town of Dargan in the state of New South Wales.
