Google has now issued a statement regarding the Navi Mumbai accident wherein a woman drove her car into the Belapur creek. She blamed the accident on Google Maps, claiming that the road was suggested by the navigation system. Google has now clarified that the mentioned route is ‘not mapped for navigation’ and Maps could not have suggested the route.
Referring to the incident, a Google spokesperson said, “We wish to clarify that the road under the bridge is not mapped for navigation in Google Maps, and our internal review confirms that Maps did not recommend a route through it."
The spokesperson told The Telegraph, "The only route Google Maps provides in this area is through the Belapur Bridge over the Panvel Creek. We built Google Maps with safety and reliability in mind and will continue to focus on delivering a high quality navigation experience to people everywhere."
The lady, identified as Shweta Sharma from Kharghar was going to Ulwe and was following Google Maps while it was raining heavily. "While she had to take the flyover at Dhruvatara jetty, she got confused and instead took the road besides the flyover which goes to the creek," said a police officer.
The 29 year old woman who was driving the vehicle was dramatically rescued by coastal security police and Indian rescue academy team who were present nearby. The car was later retrieved from the water using a crane.
This indicates that the issue was not related to Google Maps, but it was instead a manual error that caused her to take the plunge. In any case, the tech giant advises to not drive hastily, especially when the weather conditions are bad, and to double check before taking a wrong turn.
