Utility

Google map’s mishap: Travellers stranded in middle of a desert during dust storm

An unexpected diversion occurred for a party of Californians who were returning from the recent Formula 1 event in Las Vegas while using Google Maps for guidance. On the way back, they had an off-road adventure rather than a peaceful travel.

On November 19, Shelby Easler, her brother Austin, and their significant others were using Google Maps to plan their return to Los Angeles. The app advised them to take a different route in order to avoid the dust storm that created significant traffic delays on Sunday, rather than travelling on Interstate 15, the main route connecting Southern California to Sin City.

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“We ironically thought it would be a safer option, and it did say it would be 50 minutes faster,” she stated. “It was our first time driving to and from Vegas, so we didn’t know that you can really only take the I-15 back and forth.”

Travellers in the US are misled by Google Maps into a desert during a dust storm.

It was stated that the group was attempting to evade traffic on Interstate 15. An unexpected diversion occurred for a party of Californians who were returning from the recent Formula 1 event in Las Vegas while using Google Maps for guidance. On the way back, they had an off-road adventure rather than a peaceful travel.

Also read: US professor hopes to be cloned by aliens by sending his DNA to the moon

The group’s car was unexpectedly steered off the main route and into Nevada’s arid desert by Google Maps. Shelby’s widely shared video indicates that their off-road experience was not a one-off event, as other vehicles can be observed trailing behind them.

“The first driver who turned around spoke with us and informed us that the trail leads nowhere and that we must turn around since the road washes out the deeper you go into the mountain. He was driving a large truck through the bushes and plants, signalling to others to turn around, Ms. Easler said.

Srushti Sharma

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