Frustrated with the cost of rescuing cars, motorcycles, bikers and hikers from places they shouldn’t be, a town in Sardinia has taken to posting signs warning travelers against paying attention to their Google Maps directions.
The mayor of Baunei told Ansa news agency that “Too many sedans and small cars get stuck on impassable paths, sometimes even off-road vehicles too.” Last year, local emergency services had to rescue 144 people, including a couple stuck in a Porsche on a narrow mountain pass.
The town, in a mountainous and somewhat wild area of north-eastern Sardinia popular for its white sandy beaches, is posting the signs all over, with multiple language warnings: “Do Not Follow the Directions of Google Maps.” The mayor told Il Messagero “The old paper maps are better, or better still, use an expert local guide from our area.”
