Google Maps Glitch Sparks Traffic Chaos in Scottish Villages

A malfunction in Google Maps directed traffic away from the A9 trunk road onto a single-track route through several Perthshire villages, resulting in widespread disruption. The glitch, which began on Friday, caused vehicles, including campervans and a coach, to navigate the unclassified U163 road that passes through Ballinluig, Tulliemet, and Guay.

Transport Scotland issued a statement on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday, confirming that Google Maps was erroneously reporting the A9 as closed and suggesting an "inconvenient alternate route" despite the main road remaining open. While the issue appears to have been resolved, local residents reported significant anxiety and disruption.

"People were just doing as Google said but the excessive speed was unbelievable," said Joanne Boyne, a resident of Guay. She described the U163 as a narrow, single-track road with no designated passing places and overgrown vegetation, making high speeds dangerous. Despite these conditions, Boyne observed vehicles traveling at speeds up to 40 mph, including large vehicles like campervans, a coach, and cars towing trailers.

The traffic congestion on the narrow road created safety concerns, particularly for emergency services. "We were really worried about trying to get to potential appointments or if there was an emergency," Boyne stated, noting that the traffic would have impeded any ambulance or fire engine. The situation also impacted residents' ability to access their own homes and travel locally. Boyne's parents, who live three miles away on the affected road, were unable to leave their house for several days. A journey that typically takes 10 minutes to her parents' home extended to nearly 45 minutes for Boyne over the weekend.

Laura Hansler, from the A9 Dual Action campaign group, indicated that the problem was rectified after a member of the group contacted Google Maps in London. However, she noted that such glitches, including incorrect speed limit notifications on the A9, have occurred previously. Hansler criticized the diversion as illogical and stated that while Google Maps sometimes flags actual road closures due to incidents, it can also malfunction without apparent cause.

Hansler added that drivers often rely on navigation systems for safety, especially on routes like the A9, to avoid unexpected closures or roadworks. She expressed concern that inaccurate mapping can lead to accidents, particularly when unsuitable diversion routes are recommended for large vehicles. The campaign group has previously communicated with Transport Scotland and the Scottish government regarding these issues. Transport Scotland has stated it does not have a direct data feed to satellite navigation providers like Google. The group is now seeking further government action to prevent similar incidents in the future.