CALIFORNIA, USA — More than 50 reports of people getting stuck on backroads in several locations, including Plumas County, came in after Google and Apple Maps told drivers to take the backroads.
They were trying to get around road closures caused by record-breaking December snow. Law enforcement says people need to heed those road closures.
"With 80 being closed for several days and almost every route into the lake being closed, people are trying to find alternative routes and they are inadvertently taking roads that are not plowed or maintained with poor cell service, creating a recipe for disaster," said Sgt. Mike Powers, spokesperson for the Placer County Sheriff's Office.
Some on Twitter called Google maps an abject failure, adding that people are risking their lives being sent to poorly maintained roads in a winter storm.
ABC10 reached out to Google to get answers. Google says, "In light of the unpredictable conditions from the current snowstorm, our team is working as quickly as possible to update routes in the Lake Tahoe area using a combination of third party data and details from local authorities. We currently show a winter storm warning to alert drivers in the area, and encourage everyone to stay alert and attentive."
Sgt. Powers would take that a few steps further.
"The smart thing is don't come up. Go ahead and wait until the storm clears," he said.
California Highway Patrol agrees saying many people are attempting to get by the road closures using their GPS navigation and are becoming stranded on roads not designed for winter travel, which puts a huge burden on already stretched thin resources.
"You're relying on technology to be able to update every road and nobody can keep track of every road. And in fact, it could be plowed one minute and heavy snow could dump, and an hour later, it can be completely impassable," Powers said.
Law enforcement officials are urging people to not use navigation apps and to look up the road conditions with Caltrans before traveling in this winter storm.
"I've been up here for 21 years, and I would say it's top 6 in terms of storms. And then you have it ongoing for another half a week, we're not sure. That creates an absolute mess in terms of the roadway and stranded motorists," Powers said.
If people are caught in the storm, Powers said that lack of preparedness could be a recipe for disaster.
"Without cell reception or ability to sustain themselves, they could get themselves into a lot of trouble," he said.
If people are rescued or forced to leave their cars behind, Powers said that car could be left behind for up to a week in current forecast conditions.
"You shouldn't drink and drive, you shouldn't go out into I-80 in a big severe snowstorm. Unfortunately, people are still going to do it; we still have a job to do. And we'll do everything we can to try to help them. But ultimately, personal responsibility is the key to ultimately, unfortunately, their survival, maybe, depending on how severe they get themselves in trouble," he said.
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