GPS Unit Leads Driver To The Tracks
GPS has been installed in vehicles to help keep us on track and to direct us where to go when we are lost. We expect to be directed where we need to go and not somewhere that could possibly get us killed.
A computer consultant driving a rental car drove onto train tracks this week using the instructions from his GPS unit. A train was barreling toward him, but he escaped in time and no one was injured.
The driver had turned right, as the system advised, and the car somehow got stuck right on the tracks at the train crossing. He jumped out and tried to warn the engineer by waving. He got out of the way just before the train slammed into the car at 60 mph. The train pushed the car over 100 feet causing a fire.
The accident damaged 250 feet or rail and more than 500 passengers on the train were stranded for two hours. I think that it is safe to say that GPS units may be great – but they aren’t perfect enough to warn us of incoming trains or other possible accidents.