Saying Bad GPS Directions = 'Killing Children' Seems A Bit Extreme
from the don't-you-think? dept
Everyone knows that GPS devices have varying degrees of quality when it comes to providing routing directions. Generally speaking, none are great, especially when it comes to local roads. Some are better than others, but it generally depends on the location. Still, it seems a bit extreme to dub GPS devices with poor navigation skills as "child killers." However, that appears to be what some researchers have done in a report on GPS driving systems as tested in the Netherlands. Apparently, most of the navigation systems don't recognize that certain residential areas are really designed for local access only, rather than having cars travel through them. So they send people through those roads, where pedestrians have the right of way. From that, the researchers take the leap (and it's a big one) to calling them "kid killers." It's one way to get attention for your research, but not exactly the best way to get yourself taken seriously.
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Filed Under: directions, gps
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I will find you...
A GPS is a Tool, not an end all solution. If you treat it as an end-all solution, hate to say it, but your being a bad parent. Teach your kiddos to DRIVE and use common sense. Once they have suceeded at that, then, (and only then), introduce technology as a helper.
This is the only way it will work. If you put the cart before the horse, you'll surely ruin it for all of us, and Ol Iron Chef will hunt you down and provide testamony against you kid. I guarantee you that.
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Re: I will find you...
Obviously you need to know how to drive a car before you can take directions on driving it.
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Re: Re: I will find you...
The ridiculous leap being made by this report is that these drivers who have been routed through these local-traffic-only areas are going to be completely unfamiliar with the area and therefore run over the kids that live there. And it's going to be the GPS devices' fault that they were there in the first place.
It has nothing to do with the training of young drivers.
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Re: I will find you...
someone who uses a gps without learning how to find their way without one will not know how to use a map, know the names of roads, and get lost easily which allready i had problems with anyway.
now maybe someone who watches the gps instead of looking at the road could be a child killer same could be said for someone who looks at a map while driving or fiddles with finding the right cd to listen to. my gps tells me what i need to do so i dont have to look at it.
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Deligitimizing
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wtf?
Perhaps GPS maps ought to be deliberately loaded with the occasional 'long drive off a short pier' to weed out people who shouldn't be driving in the first place.
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GPS directions.
2. person runs off cliff Following GPS directions.
3. person ends up in WRONG part of town and is Highjacked, after following GPS directions...
I find 1 common ERROR...The HUMAN FOLLOWING directions, DONT KNOW WHERE THEY ARE>
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what kind of road doesnt allow cars on it anyway? in amercia we walk on sidewalks the opposite direction of the cars so we see them coming not in the middle of roads.
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"Child Killer"
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Here in the Netherlands the road structure is far different than the one in the US. Our sidewalks are not as high, sometimes level with the street. The streets here mentioned are narrow. One little town had to ban large vehicles from their roads to 'hint' truckdrivers that they had to avoid it. Many large trucks became stuck in the narrow roads.
In general, the maps in the Netherlands for GPS are very good; however, sometimes the *directions* are not, and yet followed blindly, despite the extremely good roadsign-directions.
Increasing (heavy truck) traffic in small towns where people not generally expect them is a serious issue and really increases the danger for accidents.
Add to that equation that cycling is not 'common' but 'ubiquitous', (there are more bicycles than people here) and serious accidents are bound to increase and happen.
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Re:
Think about it my friend... If you got it... It was most likely in the back of a truck at some point
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old days
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Re: old days
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Perhaps they came on a bit strong...
But it does highlight an important point which is that GPS systems do have the potential to direct more traffic - in some cases MUCH more traffic via residential areas
No the GPS is not going to run over a kid, but rerouting potentially large amounts of traffic through small residential streets is bound to lead to more accidents
Surely peoiple can grasp that? Or does everyone here let their kids play on the freeway?
Personally I think it highlights that the manufacturers need to be a bit more responsible and come up with some method which takes into account whether a street is residential or not and possibly other factors
A lot of the time using these streets is no faster anyway due to their size and speed limits. Some of the younger taxi drivers near my house use them and the 'quick route' to the airport usually isn't in my experience
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Re: Perhaps they came on a bit strong...
This is the next generation of data. Perhaps the google picture car will pick up on this when it drives through the neighborhood.
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Re: Re: Perhaps they came on a bit strong...
I would guess that mapping roads in a GPS is not easy either but they did that so applying the same problem solving abilities to a problem they are creating would seem to be a good idea (I'm surpirsed that they didn't see thisone coming from a long way off)
I would suggest they start if they haven't already, as I can see this being the type of thing that governments will start cracking down on if not. The obvious implication being that you will have some government office in a given country saying "you must do it this way, using this half assed system" or "you must live up to these requirements"
If the mapping companies were to do it and achieve a decent provable success rate they would probably be in a good position and likely be able to at least help consult on the rules
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GPS
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Dee Da Dee People
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Kinda makes sense
It's scary how the "information age" is destroying the concept of common sense and personal responsibility.
Loh
Loh
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Simpletons
We see this all the time in politics, religion and even workplaces - get something/someone thinking for people and they'll follow it like the good little sheep that they are.
The only reason this is any different is because the effect is a lot more apparent and the blame shifting is becoming rather ridiculous.
A GPS device will only make a simpleton of a person who allows it to.
People need to start accepting responsibility for their own actions; GPS told you to drive into a house - still your fault, got drunk and ran someone down driving home - still your fault, broke and hungry so you decide to knock off a liquor store and end up shooting the clerk - still your fault.
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Maps kill people.
Heard it here first...
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I drove out to Colorado following a classmate one time. To get to our destination he wanted to take a road over the mountains that didn't even show up on the map I had. When I hesitated he got pissy and said 'fine' and headed off on his own.
When he turned up a full day late it turned out that the 'road' he took was an unimproved gravel road that was intended for four-wheel-drive vehicles, not a Buick Regal, and after taking nearly six hours to go about ten miles he found out the road was impassible at the summit for his car and he ended up backtracking to where we parted ways earlier in the day. Coming back down in the dark he got stuck and had to wait until morning to find somebody to pull his car out of the mud.
GPS is a tool. Just like a map. It was never intended as a replacement for common sense.
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Testing should be mandatory to qualify for having children and using GPS systems.
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GPS doesn't kill people...
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Personally I just can not wait.
Wait that is for the invariable results of driverless cars barreling down streets disregarding all obstacles in their path.
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RE:
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Re: RE:
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Smarter Maps?
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