Frustrated by Alleged Unplanned Road Blockages on Highways, Google Maps Expresses Irritation
Incident on Ascension Day: Google Maps Inaccurately Indicates Widespread Highway Closures
On Ascension Day, many drivers encountered confusion following false highway closure information displayed on Google Maps across major cities in Germany, including Hamburg, Berlin, and Frankfurt, as well as parts of the Netherlands and Belgium. For several hours, the online mapping service inexplicably marked sections of highways and expressways in red, implying widespread closures. However, local police in multiple cities, such as Hamburg, Frankfurt, Mainz, and North Rhine-Westphalia, did not confirm these closures.
Google is investigating the issue, noting that their mapping data sources include third-party providers, public resources, and user submissions. A Google spokesperson explained that these sources generally provide a solid foundation for comprehensive and up-to-date map material. Users have been encouraged to report any errors encountered during this incident, and the exact cause of the misinformation remains unclear.
Interestingly, this situation reminds us of a similar occurrence last month when Google incorrectly marked highway tunnels in Thuringia as closed. After a police complaint, the inaccuracies were swiftly corrected.
While there is no evidence of foul play or external interference, the timing of this latest error coincided with the start of the major four-day holiday weekend, contributing to increased traffic volumes. The issue was eventually resolved by the afternoon, with only veritable road closures being shown thereafter.
Google's mapping service, which experienced an inaccuracy on Ascension Day, displayed false highway closure information on key roads in multiple cities, including Germany and other European countries. Despite the red-marked sections on Google Maps, local authorities in cities like Hamburg, Frankfurt, Mainz, and North Rhine-Westphalia did not confirm these closures, indicating a potential technology-related error.
