Letme see if I read this correctly.
they got instructions that were in fact the shortest route but not necessarily the safest route?
Oh wah wah wah, cry me a friggin river.
Let ‘em rot in their car, I don’t care.
First time I ever used a GPS, I wasn't quite sure how the interface worked and what all the options were. (No, I didn't bother to read the directions.)
I selected the "shortest route" option instead of the 'fastest route" option. Luckily, I was familiar enough with the area to know that it was wrong. It plotted a convoluted route of secondary roads for about 25 miles instead of the interstate that I knew would get me close to the destination I wanted in much less time. The 'shortest route' was only a mile or two less, but would have taken far longer.
The thing is just a computer. It can be handy, but common sense is still required because computers will do perfectly correct, but stupid thing.
Pretty cold.
Something similar happened in 2006. A family missed their turnoff in Southern Oregon and took an alternate route that left them stranded in snow on a mountain road that was supposed to be closed off during the winter. The story of the missing family made national headlines, but rescuers were unable to locate them. After they waited in their car for several days, the husband died of hypothermia when he tried to go for help.
I know someone who works for the Forest Service in this area. He said that essentially this man was killed by Mapquest.
Maybe the full responsibility of Mapquest can be debated but I think the surviving family members in this case definitely have a good enough case to take to court. I haven't checked but I wouldn't be surprised if the case had already been settled.