Baunei, an idyllic mountain village on the Italian island of
Sardinia, has launched an appeal to visitors asking them to stop relying
on the directions of Google Maps when driving around the area.
Salvatore Corrias, the mayor of Baunei, claims that in the last year
alone the local fire service or mountain rescue team have been called
144 times to help stranded tourists who had followed the directions of
Google Maps. Apparently, people are often using the GPS-powered app to
reach so-called “hidden beaches” around Baunei and end up driving down
lanes that are unsuitable for cars or onto off-road tracks. To stop this
from happening, local police have put up signs that read “Do not follow
the directions suggested by Google Maps”.
“What happens is that people aren’t used to the dirt roads in the area and so rely on Google Maps,” Mayor Corrias told The Guardian.
“But after a while they realize that they are not on a proper road, and
so we have to go and rescue them. We have had so many instances,
especially in recent years – unfortunately Google Maps does not take
people to the places they want to go.”
Rescue services are funded by the local community, so stranded
tourists don’t have to paid for getting rescued. Only the number of
rescue operations has become so great that it’s putting a serious strain
on the local budget. The problem has become so serious that Baunei
authorities have even contemplated banning the app, which it turns out
is impossible.
“It’s not possible for us to ban its use so this is a warning: do not
use Google Maps as you’ll end up in an obscure place. It just requires a
little common sense,” Salvatore Corrias said.
Baunei authorities have alerted Google about the problems their free
navigation app is causing, but so far they’ve received no reply. In the
meantime, the town is setting up more road signs and kick-starting an
information campaign on social media to deter people from using Google
Maps in the area.
“The old paper maps are better, or better still, use an expert local guide from our area,” the mayor of Baunei advised tourists.
