Posted on 12/08/2006 10:25:19 AM PST by LibWhacker
No offense to the family, but Mr. Kim's reliance on technology would seem to have supplanted his common sense and good judgment.
From the turn off on the Merlin-Galice Rd (just south of Galice) the sign says about 65 miles to Gold Beach. It took me over 3 hours to get there but that was driving a P/U with a large cabover camper on the bed. My wife and stepdaughter went that way and about 8 years ago and it took over 2 1/2 hours. They took the back roads because stepdaugter was just starting to drive and wanted to go where not many cars would be. The longer route via 199 would have taken about 2 hours.
Trying to map the trip on Google but the system just hangs???
Not a chance. From mapquest.com: This map is informational only. No representation is made or warranty given as to its content. User assumes all risk of use. MapQuest and its suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use.
All online map sites have similar, if not the exact same disclaimer.
Just got through to Google (Google Earth) and it does send you through the route that the Kims took. It may be the shortest but not the way to go in the winter. Passable in summer but takes a very long time.
You know, it's crazy... I've been given many bad/incorrect routes by online mapping services (I just haven't been sent on a death ride yet). It's hard to believe tech-savvy James Kim wouldn't know that you have to take those maps with a grain of salt, especially in the backcountry.
Mapquest did have a disclaimer, MSN gave a link for a disclaimer, and Google Earth had no disclaimer or link for one
I did this search on MapQuest and posted about it on 12/4 at 6:47 PM. Contrary to this article it does you on either this road or another forest service road just like it, not a "safer highway route." My post and a few others along this line generated a couple replies because I asked the question as to whether or not MapQuest might have any liability if, in fact, the family had gotten these instructions from them. Do you suppose MapQuest got word of this and changed their recommendation for this route to cover this up?
Not accurate for the searches I just did. Yahoo was the only map service that had the correct route to take, Grants Pass to Gold Beach via 199. All others including Google Earth, MSN Maps, and MapQuest sent you on the fatal trip that the Kims took. Mapquest did have a disclaimer, MSN provided a link to a disclaimer, and Google Earth had no disclaimer.
I just did a search, Grants Pass (Zip 97526) to Gold Beach, and it still sent you the wrong way or the way the Kims attempted. Mapquest did have a disclaimer at the bottom of the directions.
Terms of use for Google maps It's not on the first map that's displayed after an address is entered. It's a link on the printable version, at the lower right hand corner. Their relevant disclaimer for this case:
You agree that you are responsible for your own conduct and content while using Google Maps and for any consequences thereof.
MapQuest cannot be faulted for fixing their recommendation in light of what happened. Moreover, "subsequent remedial measures" are inadmissible as evidence of liability. That's just the way it is in court.
I'm sorry, actually the "Terms of Use" link is on the first map generated too, not just the printable version.
This is a search I just did, still wrong....
Are you certain that's the case? I believe that there is a legal standard of "evidence of guilty knowledge" allowing this type of material.
It's a matter of public policy: one cannot expect property-owners (in this case) to be afraid to fill gopher-holes after an accident until the statute of limitations has expired, or the court case is concluded.
Love how these people attach a bunch of speculation to a big story so that their name will come up on searches about the story and heighten their profile and maybe their paycheck. it's so sleazy.
All that aside these mapping services just use a simple maze pathing algorythm to find the most direct route from the entered point A to the entered point B. There's simply no way they could program in various seasonal travel adviseries and such, at least not and keep the services free. If you really want good directions for a cross country trip in teritory unfamiliar to you there's still only one good source, AAA, they work in the seasonal stuff and get the road construction schedules. AAA can do this because they charge.
They're good as tools but NOT 100% accurate. Sometimes the directions don't always get you to the correct street. That happened to me when I was looking for the DHL address in Long Beach, California.
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