Police in the Australian state of Victoria issued an alert on their official news website on Monday warning drivers “to be careful” when using Apple Maps — the new default map app on the iPhone and iPad — after several drivers were recovered stranded in the middle of a rural national park, some reportedly for over 24 hours without food or water, after following Apple’s erroneous directions to the city of Mildura, which actually lies over 40 miles (70 km) away from where it appears on Apple Maps. As the Victoria Police News website stated:
Tests on the mapping system by police confirm the mapping systems lists Mildura in the middle of the Murray Sunset National Park, approximately 70km away from the actual location of Mildura.
Police 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 located by police have been stranded for up to 24 hours without food or water and have walked long distances through dangerous terrain to get phone reception.
Victoria Police said they reached out to Apple and have asked the company to fix the directions.
Apple Maps, the company’s own map program, was launched for the iPhone and iPad on the iOS 6 mobile operating system in September, kicking out Google Maps out as default. Apple Maps received numerous complaints from users and sharp criticism from the press, and Apple CEO Tim Cook later released a public apology. Several Apple executives have reportedly also been fired over their roles in creating the software.
(H/T: MacRumors)
