German Roads Thrown into Chaos after Google Maps Mislabels Highways as Closed

In a recent debacle that left German motorists scratching their heads, Google Maps incorrectly labeled vast sections of the country's autobahns and highways as closed. The incident coincided with the start of a four-day holiday break, when many Germans were on the move, adding insult to injury.

The chaos was not limited to Germany; parts of Belgium and the Netherlands also suffered from the mislabeled closures, bringing travel plans to a grinding halt for some. According to The Guardian, major roads in western, northern, south-western, and central parts of the country were shown as closed, sparking widespread panic among drivers.

As the holiday break began, many Google Maps users took alternative routes to avoid what they thought were road closures, leading to a surge in traffic on smaller roads. However, drivers who opted not to rely on Google Maps – or those who checked other services like Apple Maps and Waze – found that everything was moving freely.

The apparent mass closure of so many roads caused some motorists to speculate about natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or even a state-sponsored hack. However, when asked about the glitch, which lasted around two hours, Google acknowledged that it had been due to a technical issue with inaccurate road closures on the map.

Google stated that it draws information from three key sources: individual users, public sources such as transportation authorities, and a mix of third-party providers. The company attributed the problem to a "technical issue" and has since removed the incorrect entries from the map.

The incident is not an isolated one; Google Maps has a history of errors. Earlier this month, it incorrectly showed highway tunnels being closed in part of Germany when they were open. In 2023, the company was sued by the family of a North Carolina man who drove his car off a collapsed bridge after following directions given by Google Maps.

In recent years, Google has added AI features to its maps service, which have sometimes led to inaccuracies. The company's reliance on third-party providers can also lead to errors. Nevertheless, the latest incident serves as a reminder for drivers and users alike to always verify information before taking action.