A woman got walking directions for a trip from Google Maps. As she followed the directions, she ended up in the middle of a highway, when she was hit by a car. She is suing the driver of the car that hit her, along with Google for bad directions that put her in danger.
Is Google responsible for giving out bad directions through its Google Maps service? We’re about to find out. After Googling walking directions for a trip in Park City, Utah, Lauren Rosenberg claims she was led onto a busy highway, where she was struck by a vehicle. She’s now suing Google for damages.Does Google really need to tell people to look both ways before they cross the street? Is that how reliant on Google people have become - they just turn off their brains and follow directions?
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Rosenberg used Google Maps on January 19, 2009, via her Blackberry, to get directions between 96 Daly Street, Park City, Utah and 1710 Prospector Avenue, Park City, Utah. Google provided these, telling her as part of the route to walk for about 1/2 mile along the calm-sounding “Deer Valley Drive.” That’s an alternative name for that section of Utah State Route 224, a highway that lacks sidewalks, the case says. Rosenberg wasn’t warned about this, putting Google directly at fault in the accident.
This is a case of, she got bad directions, but instead of finding a new route and accepting the wasted time by a lousy service (and sending them a nasty email message) decided to follow them anyway.
ReplyDeletewhy isn't she suing the governmental body who built the road and allowed such easy pedestrian access?
ReplyDeleteIs the same woman who sued McDonald's for hot coffee?
ReplyDeleteI guess she missed the comment right above the directions:
ReplyDeleteWalking directions are in beta.
Use caution – This route may be missing sidewalks or pedestrian paths.
And then the fine print at the bottom:
These directions are for planning purposes only. You may find that construction projects, traffic, weather, or other events may cause conditions to differ from the map results, and you should plan your route accordingly. You must obey all signs or notices regarding your route.
Apparently, there's no warning on the Blackberry version. Of course, she's still a complete idiot...
ReplyDelete