Why are people still following their GPS to tragedy?
When the technology in a vehicle fails, you need to have a backup plan
“Sorry, dude. Looked like a road.” So said the GPS that sent a delivery van onto a snowmobile trail a couple of months ago in Ontario.
New navigation systems and crowdsourced apps have brought more layers of information and safety to traditional GPS systems that use satellites and mapping software. With more immediate input on weather conditions, traffic and variables such as obstacles or construction, drivers have never had more current information to rely on.
But sometimes they rely on it too much.
The story of an Indiana couple made headlines recently. Frequent cross-country travellers on a trip from Oregon to Arizona, the couple became stranded in Nevada in late March after following their GPS system off a paved route and up a mountain range, getting stuck in their SUV, which was towing their RV. They unhitched the truck after the RV hit the ditch, and were unable to drive down the mountain because they got bogged in mud. Tragically, they couldn't summon help and the husband died on the mountain. Local officials who repeatedly failed to respond to the family desperately requesting help to find them have a lot to answer for.
Commenters on the article helpfully point out everything the couple did wrong. The older couple both had severe health issues, and decisions they made, including leaving the RV, not taking any supplies, and of course, trusting a GPS in unknown territory, are easy to point fingers at. We used to see far more stories like this when navigation systems were in their infancy, and while some were comical, many were tragic. Our reliance on technology is not the fault of any particular generation; we've all been frogs in a slowly heating pot, trained to trust technology than any mere human. But as a driver, it is always up to you. Just like automated driving features that are increasingly being introduced in many vehicles, it is up to you to keep your hand on the wheel.
I use Waze (bought by Google Maps in 2013) because I like the crowdsourced functions it provides in real time.
But it will take me along the shortest route by time to get to my destination and sees those 90 seconds of savings as certain proof that I should get off the highway and then get back on. Unless it's a considerable difference, I stay put. I usually have a traffic station on the radio in heavy traffic for further direction. But what if you're in a strange place? Navigation systems become your North Star, for better or worse.
There are many reasons the tragedy with the older couple in Nevada could have you saying, “couldn't happen to me.” I get it. But whether you're medically fragile or a top athlete, you should never travel without adequate supplies and preparation. Resist the temptation to judge and feel safe. Every part of our lives is now driven by technology that connects us to everything else, including safety, work, entertainment and each other. A failure could happen to anyone, and the skill set of surviving is something we should be talking about with anyone we know who drives, particularly over long distances. You may know everything, so impart that wisdom to your kids and parents.
Know how a navigation system works:
Whether it's a car manufacturer's system or one on your phone, know how to work it. Don't do this on the fly, and that goes double for a rental. Set it so it won't direct you onto unpaved roads or seasonal ones. Many systems let you share your route so someone can know where you are expected to be, and when.
Know what you're headed into: Travelling across the country sounds amazing, and it is. But it is imperative you understand the terrain and weather of where you plan to drive. Things can turn on a dime, which means paying attention to changing conditions.
Carry paper maps: Reading maps is rapidly becoming a lost skill (as is re-folding them), so resurrect it in your family. Keep current maps in the glove box. Your phone probably has a passable compass when it's in service areas, but toss a real one in there, too. As someone who has been lost in the Sahara desert for a week, I can't stress enough how quickly you can get turned around and disoriented. I came away from that experience thinking I should know celestial navigation. It's extreme, but it highlighted the fact that WhenTech (which we weren't allowed to have) fails, you need a backup plan.
Carry an additional power source: Buy a battery booster pack and keep it charged. If you're a serious wanderer, hiker or driver, invest in a personal locator beacon (oneway distress call) or a satellite messenger source (two-way emergency communication). Most cellphones allow you to make a call to emergency services even if you have no coverage — but you still need power.
Download the What3Words app on your phone: Trusted and recommended by many first responders and rescue services, it's another tool in your arsenal that will make you a recoverable needle, no matter how large the haystack.
Don't leave your vehicle: If you're stranded, this is your shelter. Your vehicle is larger than you and easier for searchers to locate. Carry water, food, blankets, proper footwear and medicine.