Followed Google Maps, Ended Up In A River

No one was injured in an accident that sent four tourists into a river in West Iceland last Friday, but following the instructions of Google Maps may have played a role.

Vísir reports that the four were driving in Snæfellsnes, west Iceland, when they lost control of their vehicle and drove their rental car into the Hraunhafnará river. No one was injured in the accident, and the vehicle itself is well above water.

According to a police report, the driver only received their license last April and had not been driving much since then. In addition, they claim they had been following Google Maps diligently, and yet ended up in the river anyway.

Car traffic has been on the rise in most regions of the country, and many visitors to Iceland will use GPS devices or Google Maps to help them along their way. However, a good old fashioned paper map may prove more advantageous, as Iceland’s penchant for different places with the same name has caused confusion in the past.

If you do rent a car in Iceland, you might also want to check out The Grapevine’s Top Tips For Driving Safely In Iceland.