AUSTRALIAN POLICE HAVE contacted Apple after motorists became stranded when they followed the new iOS6 map system on their iPhone.
Victoria Police said that Mildura Police are urging motorists to be careful when relying on the iOS 6 mapping system “after a number of motorists were directed off the beaten track in recent weeks”.
They said that local police have been called in to help distressed motorists who ended up stranded in the Murray-Sunset National Park after believing they were on their way to Mildura.
The motorists said they followed the map – but the town of Mildura is actually 70km away from where the motorists were found.
Police said they are extremely concerned:
as there is no water supply within the Park and temperatures can reach as high as 46 degrees, making this a potentially life threatening issue.
Some of the motorists found by police had been stranded for up to 24 hours without food or water and even walked long distances through dangerous terrain to get phone reception so they could contact their rescuers.
Police have contacted Apple in relation to the issue and say they “hope the matter is rectified promptly to ensure the safety of motorists travelling to Mildura”.
“Anyone travelling to Mildura or other locations within Victoria should rely on other forms of mapping until this matter is rectified,” said police.
Irish errors
Earlier this year, it emerged that the tech giant’s new mobile operating system iOS6 contained some errors in its maps of Ireland. It described Airfield Park as an airport, a move which led to Justice Minister Alan Shatter saying he was concerned that it could be “dangerously misleading” and lead to a pilot unfamiliar with the area to attempt a landing.
The maps also contain a number of other mistakes, including calling Coolock ‘Coolcock’, and naming unknown locations including ‘Angiery Camden Core’ and ‘Ulsara’ in Dublin City.
They also managed to locate Dublin Zoo just off Grafton Street.
Apple CEO Tim Cook apologised in late September for the mistakes in the maps, saying the company is doing everything it can to make Maps better.
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