NTSC: Some Road Accidents Caused by Google Maps Dependence
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17 March 2021 12:10 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Transportation Safety Commission (NTSC) chairperson Soerjanto Tjahjono on Wednesday’s virtual discussion revealed that a number of road accidents have happened because drivers took the wrong turn and mainly due to the dependence towards recommended routes suggested by GPS-based map app used by these drivers, Google Maps.
“A number of accidents have happened because the driver followed Google Maps instructions and entered a narrow road, extremely elevated roads etc,” said the NTSC chair on Wednesday.
He said the recent deadly accident where the Sri Padma Kencana tour bus fell off a cliff - which killed 27 out of 66 passengers who were mainly school students - was caused by the bus driver depending on the maps application that led the large bus to a road that was not fit to accommodate the size of the vehicle. This is believed to be the cause of the bus falling off a cliff.
The NTSC has communicated with Google and requested the tech-giant to block alternative roads that are potentially dangerous for vehicles to pass.
“We must be wise in using 4.0 technology. Take an example of Google Maps that is excellent, but at some times it is not,” he said.
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FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA
