Driver mindlessly follows GPS directions straight into water

[HomerJS]

Haha upid-stay

http://now.msn.com/now/0316-tourists-gps-water.aspx

 

[drebo]

I'll take "Things people do that prove they aren't fit for life" for $2000, Alex.

Seriously, how do those people manage to walk and breath at the same time?

 

[lupi]

but after driving a full quarter of a mile, the three found themselves stuck in the mud and facing an incoming tide

lulz

 

[MovingTarget]

Someone should've gotten a Darwin Award for this by now...

 

[JD50]

Micheal Scott?

 

[brainhulk]

Repost/Merged

Fern
Super Moderator

http://news.yahoo.com/gps-tracking-...ive-straight-pacific-172043575--abc-news.html

Three Japanese tourists in Australia found themselves in an embarrassing situation after their GPS navigation system lured them down the wrong path.
The three, who are students from Tokyo, set out to drive to North Stradbroke Island on the Australian coast Thursday morning, and mapped out their path on their GPS system.
The road looked clear, at low tide - but the map forgot to show the 9 miles of water and mud between the island and the mainland.
As the three drove their rented Hyundai Getz into Moreton Bay, they found the GPS device guiding them from a gravel road into thick mud. They tried to get back to solid ground, but as the tide rose they were forced to abandon their car. Passengers on passing ferries watched in amazement.

 

[Eli]

This sorta thing actually happens all the time, though perhaps not so extreme.

I guess the story gives enough info to say anyone could have made the mistake rather than ridicule them, but I have to admit it's tempting.

 

[Jaskalas]

Oh wow, a road... or in this case muddy path out to an Island?!

Quite the amazingly unique situation, and I suspect they can sue the GPS maker for a new car.

 

[Eli]

Oh wow, a road... or in this case muddy path out to an Island?!

Quite the amazingly unique situation, and I suspect they can sue the GPS maker for a new car.

It's covered, it was a rental. :awe:

 

[lupi]

wow, just like the other thread were someone drove into the ocean!

 

[marvdmartian]

Ugh.....Japanese tourists and rental cars! D:

When I lived in Guam, it wasn't unusual for them to forget they had to drive on the right side of the road, especially when turning a corner. One of the areas I had to go to do work was on the same road as a common tourist attraction, and more than once we had to jam on the brakes as they'd come sailing around the corner, from the main drag, on the wrong side of the street!

I do realize it's common for those of us that drive on the right to do similarly in those countries that drive on the left side. What was comical was the time it happened to me (with Japanese tourist screeching to a stop, 20 feet from the front of my work truck), was that he sat there, puzzled, looking at me. I just pointed to my left (his right), and it suddenly dawned on him what he'd done. He nodded his head vigorously, with an embarrassed smile on his face, turned his car into the right lane, and drove past me.....likely, with his wife/GF chewing him out! :awe:

 

[CycloWizard]

Some people are still awaiting the zombie apocalypse. It has already begun.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Micheal Scott?

This

 

[GagHalfrunt]

GPS manufacturers working to improve the human gene pool by eliminating the stupid. I thank them for it.

 

[sixone]

My MIL just got a GPS. I can totally see her doing something like this.

 

[blurredvision]

Micheal Scott?

Haha, first thing I thought of, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIakZtDmMgo

 

[Imp]

I can see myself running into a tree with the way I look at my GPS while driving... I rarely, if ever, use the routing function though.

I blame Doom, Rainbow 6 and other crappy games back then, which didn't have good waypoint systems.

 

[DAGTA]

stereotypes exist for a reason

 

[shortylickens]

OK, so now the Japanese are getting as dumb as us.

 

[jupiter57]

wow, just like the other thread were someone drove into the ocean!

At least it's not a Repost!
The other thread quoted MSN, not Yahoo.
:\

 

[SKORPI0]

wow, just like the other thread were someone drove into the ocean!

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2233161 :hmm:

 

[sdifox]

Kharma moment. Ignore verb tense.

me buy used car for wife
order gps
wife sees gps, get pissed at me for wasting money
wife goes on road trip next day
I get call asking for direction.
my reply "Now you know why I bought a GPS, it's on the car, have your passenger pull it out and use it."

 

[Sonikku]

I'm not quite sure how yet, but somehow I am sure Obama is the blame.