Australian police: Apple Maps glitch could cause “potentially life threatening” mistake
Apple’s Maps have run into some glitches since the application’s launch.
Parting ways with Google Maps may have been not only a bad business move for Apple, but also a dangerous one.
The Australian police are now warning citizens "to be careful when relying on" Apple Maps out of fear that people may become stranded in the middle of nowhere thanks to a map malfunction.
According to a statement by Victoria police, several motorists who were attempting to reach a town called Mildura using Apple Maps were instead directed to a remote area in Murray-Sunset National Park. The police further noted that several of the lost motorists were stranded without food or water for as long as 24 hours.
“Tests on the mapping system by police confirm the mapping systems lists Mildura in the middle of the Murray Sunset National Park, approximately 70km (about 45 miles) away from the actual location of Mildura,” according to the statement.
This isn't the first time Apple has come under fire for its sub-par mapping system. Apple CEO Tim Cook has even made a public apology for the issues, and Apple has recently fired the head of the Maps team.
The Victoria police said they have contacted Apple over the error.