'Death by GPS' - thoughtful article

http://arstechnica.com/cars/2016/05/death-by-gps/

Hey all, I thought I'd share an interesting piece that explores the infamous "death by GPS" phenomenon we've discussed a number of times here.

It kinda mirrors my experience with "someone else driving me somewhere in a strange town" -- no detailed memory is formed without active processing.

A primary example in the article is the ordeal of Albert and Rita Chretien, who fell off the grid en route to Nevada in 2011. As I recall, we discussed their plight at length (and with, ahem, considerable vigour) some years back.

And this is the technology that will navigate self-driving cars?

Rand McNally Road Atlas Get one.

I like GPS as much or more than the next guy, but I also know that technology has been known to mess up. GPS receivers are great and generally know where they are located to under 20 feet. That does not mean that the map overlay is right. I've seen errors in the GPS maps on my Garmin Nuvi. The data is input by mere mortals...

As for driving into lakes and such, can't help you there, seek professional care...

Google maps tried to direct me off of a cliff once, so I understand completely. In built up areas, gps directions are generally good. But, as experience has shown: Nothing beats a roadmap and a decent compass once you get out a ways.

That is an excellent and very thought-provoking article, Doug, thanks very much for posting the link. So much information -- am interested to see where the research goes on whether brains are actually altered by reliance on GPS.

Love my Garmin GPS and the map-apps on my phone (IOS, Google, Waze) but my car remains well-stocked with paper maps -- local, regional and national. For any road trip to an area I'm not well-acquainted with, I study my destination and routes via Google Map on my laptop. These days I probably won't look at a paper map to plan the trip but certainly will have at least a paper road atlas in the car.

I live in DC and even around here the GPS/phone app may choose a certain route as the fastest/most direct while those of us who live here know darn good and well that the best route is a different one.

There will be many more deaths "by GPS" before the technology improves enough to calculate the many variables that can go into whether a route on a particular day is really the best bet for a particular vehicle and its occupants.

Meanwhile.... be prepared.

I don't often use GPS to find my way somewhere. I much prefer maps and pre-trip research. But I'll use GPS to "find my way OUT of somewhere" if need be (i.e., I'm lost!)

It is worth remembering that any map can be outdated quickly due to new construction, etc.This situation is almost routine when hiking with topographic maps - the topography will be quite reliable but the depiction of roads and trails, building, and the like may be hopelessly outdated.

Check the date on the map you are using, it is useful information.

Similar problems with relying on cell phone technology...until its wrong, out of power or has no reception.

Its sad. I think in every instance I have read about death by GPS, the driver took a dirt road. A simple rule of thumb, "Don't take dirt roads," would have saved them all.

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.-Unknown

That just made me smile. In my province everywhere are dirt/gravel roads. In fact Saskatchewan has 1/3 of all the dirt roads in the country (120,000+ miles). If(!) you know the grid road system in the province it is practically impossible to get lost with a gravel grid road located every 1 or 2 miles apart going east/west and north/south which demarks the township Dominion land system.

Perhaps that is so.

On the other hand, as Blake said, "Improvement makes straight roads; but the crooked roads without improvement are roads of genius.” Back roads can be rich and rewarding.

So if I may suggest a refinement, it would be this: "Don't take dirt roads unless you know dirt roads. And for God's sake don't blindly follow a GPS 'shortcut' between two points!"

LOL! I grew up in the same grid system. It's solid on the fertile prairies, where all-weather roads are the norm.

But when I get up into the boreal forest regions north or west of here, the place becomes lousy with seasonal logging roads and odd tracks. Easy enough for an outsider to get turned around; especially someone like me who's used to a predictable grid.

The same happens when I get into gnarly, twisty country like British Columbia, where roads follow contours and old wagon tracks. GPS would be darn handy out there -- with all of the potential pitfalls.

From my point of view, distinguishing a maintained, all-weather road from a seasonal track is critical. And, most importantly, the willingness to swallow my pride and turn back when my BS-o-meter starts tingling.

Exactly. There comes a point when it doesn't matter what the GPS indicates, the road under your tires is just wrong. If the road goes single lane and seems to not be maintained, you've gone too far and your BS-o-meter needs to be checked. .

On Pt A to Pt B road-trips when I'm not sight-seeing, I stick to interstates. FWIW

If your trusty GPS steers you onto a dirt road, be sure that you are driving an appropriate vehicle, which generally will not be your typical sedan. It is also important that the driver be familiar with dirt roads and their quirks in the particular area where you are traveling. have a full tank, good spare, and sufficient food and water, etc. for conditions.

Generally, dirt roads are not effective short cuts between major destinations.

Back roads, dirt roads, gravel roads, all-weather roads ... given the geographical spread, it might be worth defining what these actually look like in our local areas as we post, if only to avoid talking at cross purposes. My 2c.

People drive onto train tracks and off cliffs by following their GPS devices.

It's not dirt roads that are the problem.

I wonder how the self-driving car fans plan to minimize those kinds of risks?

The thing to remember is that the typical consumer GPS actually has several components.

First there is the actual GPS itself, which uses satellites to provide an XYZ location. In most cases, this location is accurate to within a few meters. Then there is the location database. This is a compilation of highways, roads, and streets. It also has info about whether the road is two way or one way (with direction), how many lanes, etc. These databases are compiled from a huge variety of sources, and are not always up to date. Finally there is software that connects the GPS to the database.

I think most of the problems come from the database, rather than the GPS itself. As noted, these databases contain info on millions of highways, roads, streets, etc. Even if the data were perfect to begin with (which is never the case), it is constantly changing. New roads are built, streets are blocked off, re-named, or re-routed. No position database is ever likely to be fully up to date.

Also note that you can get into serious trouble following a paper map. The well known Kim tragedy was a result of trying to follow a paper highway map. Paper maps are not always accurate or up to date.

The best way to avoid these situations (whether from GPS or printed maps) is to use common sense. If a road is supposed to be taking you to a more "civilized" place, but the road is getting worse instead of better, maybe that is a sign that you need to stop and re-evaluate?

The way I look at is that a GPS/compass/maps are navigation tools and aides.

I am the navigator and it's my job to filter and maintain the big picture.

Blake

www.outdoorquest.blogspot.com

Next up, the pleasure of a nice chilly 4degC swim in Lake Huron, at the behest of GPS ...

http://globalnews.ca/news/2699376/kitche...s-into-harbour/

[img] https://shawglobalnews.files.wordpress.c...=480&crop=1[/img]

Edit: My image-display-fu is apparently weak. Wise advice appreciated. Thx.

Arguably posessing the most advanced navigation systems in the world and with more redundant backups than any of us will ever have, even the US Navy has gone back to also teaching traditional methods of navigation. This started with the Academy and is now spreading down through different active duty billets as well.

Military.com Article on return of celestial navigation