The mayor of Baunei, in the Ogliastra area of the southern Italian island, said people keep getting lost or stuck after Google Maps directed them down treacherous roads and onto rough hiking tracks.
“Too many sedans and small cars get stuck on impassable paths, sometimes even off-road vehicles too,” Baunei Mayor Salvatore Corrias told Italian news agency ANSA.
“All this because you follow the suggestions of Google Maps which, on our roads, are often misleading.”
Last year, 144 people were rescued by emergency services after getting lost in the area.
Rescue operations in remote areas can be costly for the emergency services and local authorities, the mayor said.
Local authorities are now placing signs near roads and paths reading: “Do not follow the directions of Google Maps.”
“We’re putting them everywhere,” Corrias said, adding that the council has also complained to Google about its directions.
“The old paper maps are better... or better still, use an expert local guide from our area.”
