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

from the when-machines-take-over dept

Thu, Apr 20th 2006 10:56pm — Mike Masnick

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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25 Comments

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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.....
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Laughing, 20 Apr 2006 @ 11:50pm

Bah, damn thing didn't keep my nick....
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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.
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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...
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JPerks, 21 Apr 2006 @ 1:00am

Forget the rescue teams. Let natural selection take its course.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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').
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bobu, 21 Apr 2006 @ 6:21am

Dare for more
But it's flooded!
Don't warry there is no sugar :)
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Captain Obvious, 21 Apr 2006 @ 6:30am

No Detour Sign?
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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
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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
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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
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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!
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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?
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ehrichweiss, 21 Apr 2006 @ 11:06am

population control
AYE!!
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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.
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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
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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...
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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!
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Jul 2006 @ 12:27pm

...I mean, AYE! :-P
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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.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Feb 2009 @ 4:21pm

how do you estimate the depht of water on the road
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