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Death Valley Tourists Continue To Rely On GPS Maps
Article by: Darren Griffin
Date: 30 Jul 2011
The problem of tourists becoming disorientated and lost in California's Death Valley continues with the recent case of Donna Cooper.
Donna, along with her son and a friend, was stranded in the valley for three days when she ran out of fuel after getting lost.
An over reliance on consumer GPS devices has seen a number of cases where people have become lost in the 3,000 sq miles of desert where temperatures can reach 130º.
It was believed that the large number of old dirt roads shown on GPS maps, many of which haven't technically existed as roads for over 40 years, was adding to the problems.
And so Death Valley Rangers have enlisted the help of the GPS map companies, including Navteq and TomTom, to expunge these old tracks from the map data.
| Comments
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 Posted by M8TJT on Sat Jul 30, 2011 11:18 am |
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| News Team Wrote: |
And so Death Valley Rangers have enlisted the help of the GPS map companies, including Navteq and TomTom, to expunge these old tracks from the map data. |
So I wonder how long that will take to actually get into the maps 
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| Posted by xtraseller on Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:48 pm |
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Well at least it sounds like one place lives up to its name! Now that has to be a good thing?
TomTom Go Live 6100, 600
Garmin DriveLux 50, D-Smart 70, NuviCam, 3598, 2699, 2798
Mio Navman 695
Nexus 6p, Apple iPhone 6sPlus and Microsoft Lumia 950xl running TomTom, Garmin, CoPilot, Navigon, Sygic, Here Drive, Google, Waze, MS Maps |
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| Posted by MikeB on Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:35 pm |
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I would be very surprised if this is really a case of the SatNav giving the wrong directions. Having driven that exact route a number of times I know full well that the major SatNavs do indeed route you correctly along tarmac roads.
I suspect that the explanation here is that the driver had taken a wrong turn and headed onto a dirt track. Having got lost they then resorted to the SatNav which tried as hard as possible to send them back on track.
There are hundreds of back roads used by the local Indians some of which will connect between some of the major road. As with all tools a modicum of common sense should be used. If something doesn't look right it probably isn't...
Interestingly the 'GPS' Maps were probably derived from the USGS paper maps that you can buy over the counter. Guess what? These are 40-50 years old and show all these roads so paper maps would probably not have helped in this instance!
Mike Barrett |
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| Posted by DeLorean on Tue Aug 02, 2011 2:03 pm |
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"It was believed that the large number of old dirt roads shown on GPS maps, many of which haven't technically existed as roads for over 40 years, was adding to the problems. "
Sounds like Basingstoke 
…on a more serious note.
A road based navigation system is the last thing I would rely on whilst driving in a place like Death Valley.
Off-road navigation would seem far more appropriate in this situation and a little common sense!
🔸🔸 Currently using TomTom GO 940 & Locus Map 🔸🔸 |
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| Posted by gem on Thu Aug 04, 2011 11:27 pm |
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I have to say more fool them.
having been through DV on many occcassions I only know of one road that is a bit deserted and off the beaten track. Which becomes a bit of a dirt track.
But of course if individuals want to explore tracks leading off left, right and centre, with little fuel then you cannot blame the sat nav.
At least they would have lost some weight which as we all know the average American is a bit on the large size! 
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| Posted by M8TJT on Fri Aug 05, 2011 6:06 am |
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| gem Wrote: | | But of course if individuals want to explore tracks leading off left, right and centre, with little fuel then you cannot blame the sat nav. |
But they did have enough fuel to drive 400 odd miles 
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