Please Note: Your GPS System Doesn't Know The Depth Of The Flooded Road

from the when-machines-take-over dept

We've talked in the past about how when you have a computer aid you in a decision making process the tendency sometimes is to begin to trust the computer over your own common sense. Still, you would think there are some limits. Earlier this month, lots of folks were talking about a story in the UK where a car navigation system was leading people to the edge of a cliff -- though, no one had yet driven over the edge (a few did get stuck). However, Engadget now points to an even more extreme example (also in the UK), where people are so trusting of their GPS system that they're driving right into extremely deep water, on a road that's been closed due to flooding. There are warning signs about the road being closed, and the water itself looks pretty obvious. However, there are apparently one or two drivers per day who are so trusting of their GPS system that they try to drive right on through -- only to have to be rescued. In some ways this might not be that surprising. Drivers often don't do a very good job estimating the depth of water hazards -- and often feel they can drive right on through. On top of that, if you're in an area where you're unfamiliar with the roads, it can be unnerving, so some people may feel they have to trust their GPS system (forgetting that most will recalculate a path if the road you want is no good). Still, though, you would think that the signs announcing the road as being closed, and the amount of water present, would be a tip off that something was problematic.
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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 20 Apr 2006 @ 11:49pm

    hah

    First you have common sense to not listen to it, pitty most of the population has none so they have to listen to something.....

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Laughing, 20 Apr 2006 @ 11:50pm

    Bah, damn thing didn't keep my nick....

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Fred, 21 Apr 2006 @ 12:08am

    It doesn't take much depth at alll

    Cars are as light as it's safe to make them and they're filled with air. If I remember the Red Cross safety materials right, water only a couple of feet deep can unstick a car from the pavement.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Paul, 21 Apr 2006 @ 12:43am

    Ohhh...

    So bad GPS is why in cartoons they always run into the wall that is painted like a tunnel...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      ConceptJunkie (profile), 26 Jul 2006 @ 12:10pm

      Re: Ohhh...

      Yes, but drivers in Plymouth RoadRunners could go right through the painting as if it were real...

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    JPerks, 21 Apr 2006 @ 1:00am

    Forget the rescue teams. Let natural selection take its course.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Tim, 21 Apr 2006 @ 1:55am

    Quick clarification

    One road was closed due to flooding, and the Sat-Nav's recommended diversion was through a ford, i.e. a road across/through a river; the depth of the river, and thus the passability of the ford, varies.

    More here at Channel 4 News (UK).

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2006 @ 3:26am

    Quick CNN, do a study on the dangers of using GPS while driving! How bout GPS and Cellphones... AT THE SAME TIME... DOUBLEWHAMMY!

    And while we`re talking about cars driving off of cliffs and into dams: why the hell are we still driving around in cars powered by fossil fuels? Where the hell is my floating car? Goddamnit, every futuristic show in the 80`s predicted I´d be cruising in my very own flying automobile with optional timetravel by 2001.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2006 @ 3:27am

    I'll bet that only 1 of the 'several people per day' trying to pass this point actually had GPS and thus make it newsworthy when the rescue team notices/asks about it.
    This isnt news, people have been doing this for years. With or without computer assistance.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Louis, 21 Apr 2006 @ 3:27am

    uhm

    Where`s my nick?

    Goddamnit. I wrote that thing about the flying cars above. You don`t have to trace my ip.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Peter Griffen, 21 Apr 2006 @ 6:12am

    I once hit a TV satellite dish.....I didnt have GPS which goes to prove people are stupid.....

    New policy...you do something stupid and get into deep s**t...in this case, water, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN! It's population control. Take the damn warnings down...make people actually use their brains instead on relying on society to make all their decisions for them (which they arent allowed to do that either because it's against the 'basic american rights').

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    bobu, 21 Apr 2006 @ 6:21am

    Dare for more

    But it's flooded!
    Don't warry there is no sugar :)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Captain Obvious, 21 Apr 2006 @ 6:30am

    No Detour Sign?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    jj, 21 Apr 2006 @ 7:33am

    GPS Implantable chips

    Anyone with info on the progress of getting implantable chips to market. Kids are being kidnapped everywhere

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      alternatives, 21 Apr 2006 @ 7:50am

      Re: GPS Implantable chips

      Kids are being kidnapped everywhere

      Yea...was walking down the street, POOF! the kid across the street dissapeared! At the mall, POOF! And even in the schools POOF!

      In fact, I expect another kid napping...NOW

      NO CARRIER

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Blanc0, 21 Apr 2006 @ 7:45am

    Why Knight Rider got canceled

    KITT: ~~Please turn left in 100 Meters~~
    Micheal Knight: What, here? Are you crazy!?
    KITT: ~~Please turn left in 50 Meters~~
    Micheal Knight: Duh ok if you insist

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    WoW, 21 Apr 2006 @ 8:36am

    Forget the rescue teams. Let natural selection take its course.


    Hell YES! Everyone in favor of Population Control say AYE!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Oldbear, 26 Jul 2006 @ 12:37pm

      Re:

      AYE!!! I lived four houses from a bus trap(big hole in the road to stop cars, but let buses through) - At least once a week we would hear the big thud of a car landing in the trap. A 3ft X 4ft sign that warned of the hole, a big picture of a car in a hole, and of course the gaint-gapping-hole - still the drivers would try to get through. Then the knock on the door for a rope or help (would have called the parking police by then).
      It al just proves that the majority of people are just to stupid to live - only all the safety devices and rules are keeping them around.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Chris, 21 Apr 2006 @ 9:05am

    A Solution

    Why don't they take pictures of these stuck cars, make a giant blowup picture of it and paste it on a sign? It seems that this would act as sufficient warning that they shouldn't try it themsleves. One to two a day? Who are these idiots?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    ehrichweiss, 21 Apr 2006 @ 11:06am

    population control

    AYE!!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Tom, 21 Apr 2006 @ 2:01pm

    I don't know about you, but in light of this development I'm upgrading to the Oregon Trail GPS 700R unit. It has cool DOS graphics and keeps track of which of your passengers do and do not have dysentery (very useful). Most importantly, the new model asks you if you'd like to ford the river.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Agonizing Fury, 24 Apr 2006 @ 6:19am

    Yes it does!

    My GPS will tell me the elevation of the land under the water as well as my current elevation at the edge of the water (pretty close to the level of the water) so I knew last time I came upon a flooded road that the road was actually 15 feet above the water (although I couldn't see it) so of course I cold make it through....

    Stupid GPS

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 26 Jul 2006 @ 12:27pm

      Re: Yes it does!

      I just have to say THAT was funny!

      Everywhere is 15 feet above where I'm at, too!

      LOL!

      Oh, and YEA!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 26 Jul 2006 @ 12:27pm

    ...I mean, AYE! :-P

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Feb 2009 @ 4:21pm

    how do you estimate the depht of water on the road

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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