GPS-led travel goes amiss; 3 Ore. parties rescued

[proud2BlibKansan]

In a holiday hurry, Jeramie Griffin piled his family into the car and asked his new GPS for the quickest way from his home in the Willamette Valley across the Cascade Range.

It said he could shave 40 minutes off the time of the roundabout route he usually takes to his future in-laws' place.

Following the directions, he and his fiancee headed east on Christmas Eve and into the mountains, turning off a state highway onto local roads and finally getting stuck in the snow.

They had no cell phone service and ran short on formula for their 11-month-old daughter. After taking exploratory hikes, trying to dig out and spending the night in their car, the distraught couple filmed a goodbye video.

more . . . http://www.kansascity.com/446/story/1659716.html

[HopeHoops]

1. Sounds like the guy who drove his car through a "BRIDGE OUT" detour sign.

The GPS told him it was safe. Curiously, the bridge actually WAS out.

[uppityperson]

2. "GPS is no substitute for common sense, say law enforcement officials "

[dysfunctional press]

4. bingo.

taking shortcuts through snow-covered mountainous areas in winter isn't the brightest way to go.

[jberryhill]

3. A little common sense is needed with those things...

My GPS has tried to kill me twice. One time, it wanted me to drive off the side of a mountain in Puerto Rico, and another time it wanted me to drive into a canal in Holland.

[Make7]

5. Perhaps this is how Skynet begins... ( n/t )

[MadMaddie]

8. Hmmmmm

[liberal N proud]

6. It takes a little common sense, even with a GPS

People get in their cars, punch in a destination and do what ever the little box tells them to do.

Turn left in 200 yards when you are crossing a river is not the brightest of actions.


I blame GPS devices for all the left lane squatters. The GPS told them to stay left so they wouldn't take a passing exit so they get in the left lane and stay there until the box tells them to get in the right lane.


Stupid is as stupid does.

[jberryhill]

7. I wonder if any traffic engineers...

...have studied the problem of people getting uniformly synchronized navigation instructions.

[pansypoo53219]

9. i chart shortcuts

on state maps. made a AAA triptik 5 hour trip in about 3:30+ speeding my ass on early morning state highways. didn't save so much milwaukee to miami. did find a nice restaurant by accident in GA tho.

[denbot]

10. These things lead people to empty rough desert roads.

They don't discriminate between highways with services and 4X4 tracks. I have heard of people following GPS directions and dying after breaking down on deserted desert roads.