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TOURISM

Italian town bans use of Google Maps after ‘too many’ people get lost

A town in Sardinia has “banned” the use of Google Maps after too many people got lost locally while using the app, local media reports.

Italian town bans use of Google Maps after 'too many' people get lost
A car being rescued by firefighters near Baunei, Sardinia, after following Google Maps directions onto an impassable road. Photo: Vigili del Fuoco

The mayor of Baunei, in the Ogliastra area of Sardinia, has complained that people keep getting lost or stuck after Google Maps directed them down impassable roads and onto rugged hiking trails.

Several hikers have reportedly gone missing and “many” cars have become stuck in the impassable narrow roads of the Supramonte area after following directions from the app, the mayor said.

“Too many sedans and small cars get stuck on impassable paths, sometimes even off-road vehicles too,” Baunei Mayor Salvatore Corrias told the Ansa news agency.

“All this because you follow the suggestions of Google Maps which, on our roads, are often misleading,”

READ ALSO: 'Expect the unexpected': What you need to know about driving in Italy

Last year alone 144 people were rescued by emergency services after getting lost in the area – most recently, two tourists in a Porsche ended up stuck on a narrow mountain pass, reports Il Messaggero.

These rescues in remote areas prove costly for the emergency services and local authorities, the mayor said.

Local authorities are now placing signs near roads and paths saying “Do not follow the directions of Google Maps”.

“We're puttting them everywhere”, Corrias told the Ansa news agency, adding that the council has also complained to Google about its directions.

Baunei is located in a wild and mountainous part of the province of Nauro, north-eastern Sardinia, which is famous for its incredible white sandy beaches, beloved by tourists from Italy and abroad.

“The old paper maps are better”, Corrias said, “or better still, use an expert local guide from our area.”

Sardinia is not the only place in Italy where tourists get into trouble using Google Maps.

In Venice, despite a plethora of road signs in English and Italian warning visitors that they can't drive in the historic city, several tourists still cause chaos each year by attemptng to drive alongside the canals.

READ ALSO: Tourists blame Google for drive in car-free Venice

 

Member comments

  1. I am Italian, but I love to read your articles. On this occasion, yours about to “ban the use of Google Maps after too many people got lost locally while using the app”, it is really amusing.
    I laughed a lot reading it because it happened to me too during a touristic tour with friends in Sicily. The only thing that bothers me is that when I tell it, nobody believes me – except the friends were with me. Ciao! Daniela

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DRIVING

The key vocabulary you’ll need for taking your driving test in Italy

Taking your driving test in Italian may be a daunting prospect, but having a firm grasp of the key vocabulary will help you on your way.

The key vocabulary you’ll need for taking your driving test in Italy

If you’re looking to take (or retake) your driving test in Italy and do not speak Italian, French or German, you might have to brush up on your language skills; these are the only three languages you can take your Italian driving theory test in. English is not available.

To take your esame di teoria guida (theory test) the easiest route is to sign up with an autoscuola (driving school). Read more about taking the exam here and find some more resources for practicing the language needed for your Italian driving theory test.

READ ALSO: Who needs to exchange their driving license for an Italian one?

Once you pass the theory test, you’ll receive authorisation to practise driving ahead of your practical exam with a foglio rosa (provisional driving licence). There must also be a ‘P’ sign on the back of your auto/macchina (car) for to indicate you are a principiante (learner).

At least six hours of practical driving lessons will be mandatory ahead of the practical test – even if you’ve passed a driving test before in another country.

So whether or not you’re already confident behind the wheel, here’s a rundown of the parts of the car you’ll need to be able to identify in Italian.

To get the car going you’ll press and hold la frizione (the clutch pedal). You’ll do this to innestare la frizione (engage the clutch). Slowly press down on the the acceleratore (accelerator pedal) to get going, before turning the volante (steering wheel).

If you are at an incrocio (junction) and specifically at an incrocio a T (t-junction) remember to turn on your indicatore di direzione/freccia (indicator) to girare (turn). You will also have to do this at a rotonda (roundabout).

READ MORE: The worst Italian driving habits – according to Italians

You’ll also have to use your freni (brakes) if there is a semaforo rosso (red traffic light), semaforo giallo (amber traffic light) or traffico (traffic).

You can guidare (drive) again when there is a semaforo verde (green traffic light).

You must also stop when there is a segnale di stop (stop sign) or pedoni (pedestrians) crossing the road. When your car frena (brakes), your luci dei freni (brake lights) will show.

You might need a lot of new vocabulary if your car develops a fault. Photo: Ida Guldbæk Arentsen/Ritzau Scanpix

If it is raining, you’ll use your tergicristalli (windscreen wipers) to wipe your parabrezza (windscreen/ windshield). If it is dark, but there are other cars, turn on your fari (headlights). If it’s exceptionally dark and there is no one around, turn on your fari abbaglianti (high beams). 

The pneumatici/gomme (tires) are also an important part of the car that you should keep an eye on in case one of them becomes a pneumatico/gomma a terra (flat tire). If you have this problem, you might have to visit a meccanico (mechanic).

READ ALSO: Reader question: Can I drive a minicar in Italy without a driver’s licence?

After driving on either le strade (roads) or le autostrade (highways/motorways), you’ll eventually have to parcheggiare (park). You might have to reverse park in which case you’ll have to mettere in retromarcia (go in reverse gear). After you’ve stopped, make sure to put on your freno a mano (handbrake) and check your specchietto (wing mirror).

After passing your practical test, you’ll get your patente di guida (driver’s licence), which in this case will probably be a patente B (category B licence), from your local Ufficio della Motorizzazione Civile (Civil Motorisation office). After you receive your licence, you’ll legally be a guidatore (driver).

Just remember to wear your cintura (seatbelt) in the car as it is a legal obligation.

Other useful terms

One way – Senso unico 

U-turn – Inversione a u

Toll – Pedaggio

Disengage the clutch – Disinnestare la frizione

Roadblock – Blocco stradale

Licence plate – Targa

Battery – Batteria

Right of way – Diritto di precedenza

For more information on taking your driving test in Italy, check the Italian transport ministry’s page on steps to obtain a Patente B.

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