Driver Blames GPS for His Car's Collision with Train

On Monday, a man driving in Bedford Hills made a right turn, just like his GPS told him. Or did it--because he drove onto Metro-North train tracks and into the path of a train. Luckily Jose Silva and his passengers got out before he was hit, but this is the second time a driver has blamed GPS for making them drive onto the tracks.

The car's GPS said to make a right, referring to a right up the road, but Silva and the other January driver made immediate rights. The police said there were a number of warning signs posted on the roadway--as well as railroad crossing gates. The MTA police told WCBS 2, "If he was paying attention to the road it might not have happened."

Metro-North was not very happy, since the crash caused hours of delays. Spokeswoman Marjorie Anders wondered, "You don't turn onto train tracks. Even if there are little voices in your head telling you to do so. If the GPS told you to drive off a cliff, would you drive off a cliff?" Well, if you're Michael Scott...

Silva was given summons for driving onto the tracks and not obeying signs.

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By Jen Chung in News on October 1, 2008 9:53 AM

Comments [rss]

pete

Time to ban GPS, if you can't navigate by N/E/S/W, street names, a map (google maps is enough, no GPS) and intuition, your license needs to be revoked. Will GPS need to read the stop sign and traffic light for you?

This isn't the first time I've heard of a Bedford Hills GPS and Metro North Train crash, time for a lawsuit against the map maker.

NannyState

But his GPS system did accurately point out the nearest five-star hotel with relaxing massage at their Day Spa.

Wza

duhh..which way do we go mongo..which way do we go?

Jen Chung

@rarelement, the car got stuck on the tracks.

rarelement

What I don't get is that it says the driver AND the passengers got out of the car before it was hit.

If they had enough time to get out of the car and clear before the train hit, why didn't he just continue driving away before the train hit - wouldn't that have taken less time???

JacqueMehoff

He had passengers in his car and no one thought anything of crossing the tracks. I'm wondering if the driver knew enough English. or a language barrier.

piknyc

ha, yeah, that's right, The Office did a bit about this.

Spirit of 76

I get the impression this guy wouldn't be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. Some people should be kept away from technology when they're behind the wheel. I bet he gets similarly distracted talking on a cell phone.

VanessaNYC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yyKrS8jwSY

Pull My Finger

This guy could not find his ass with both hands without a GPS unit. What a DICK!

rodney

I thought this shit only happened on fictional TV shows about incredibly stupid people. But, I am reminded yet again that stupidity is limitless.

JenChungsBaby

My GPS tells me what to write on Gothamist. I think I'm going to return it.

longacre

#5: You have to eliminate yourself from the gene pool to win a Darwin Award. Unfortunately, this guy is ineligible.

ed_Extinct

There are millions upon millions of people with GPS and 2 people have blamed GPS on wrong turns. Sorry folks, you're too stupid for society. Go live in that cave, it's your calling.

JacqueMehoff

I don't like this new turn by turn gps navigation stuff. go back to the old days where it's just a pointer showing where you are on a map. then use your brains to get to your destination by perhaps reading streetsigns and house numbers.

dumbass.

JMH

Heh, moron.

fishfryin

what a stupid twat. don't forget he totally ruined the evening of probably about 500 or 1000 people who were stuck on trains for 1-2 hours cause of his dumb ass