‘They’d throw themselves down a well if it told them to’: Google Maps traps drivers in Spain’s narrow streets

Google Maps continues to lure drivers into the tight streets of Santa Pau, a village in Girona province, Spain. The residents of Santa Pau have repeatedly had to free cars and lorries that have become wedged in the narrow Carrer Cases Noves, a street that narrows sharply as it climbs towards the main square. Mayor Cris Capó expressed frustration, saying drivers would "throw themselves into a well if Google Maps told them to."

The town hall installed a sign at one entrance, informing drivers that the road is only for residents. Santa Pau is not alone in this issue, as other villages like Etulain in Navarra also face similar problems. In Etulain, lorries are regularly diverted off the Pamplona-Irún road after satnavs direct drivers through the hamlet. The mayor of Etulain's larger municipality, Anué, had to install a traffic sign that blocked lorries from entering the village, a process that took months.

Google allows councils, businesses, and individuals to correct its maps, but small town halls without technical staff find the process difficult. Girona city managed to correct its maps after Google Maps continued to send tourists through its pedestrianised old quarter. The regional traffic management body, SCT, also became a Google Maps partner this year, empowering it to correct dangerous rerouting in town centres.

Drivers are now advised to treat sudden narrow turns with suspicion and watch for local signs that override the satnav.