Story Created: Dec 9, 2009 at 10:56 AM MDT
Story Updated: Dec 9, 2009 at 10:56 AM MDT
OREGON CITY, Ore. - It's the latest bit of technology most drivers never leave home without: a GPS device.
The small gadgets, which use the Global Positioning Satellite network, receive location information from a fleet of satellites orbiting the Earth and that information is correlated to a map inside the device, showing drivers their exact location.
But just how accurate is it?
An Oregon City man says drivers trying to get into a gated community behind his property are being led astray by GPS devices from one popular brand in particular: Garmin.
Brad Preston says the map information Garmin has installed on their devices is incorrectly leading drivers down his driveway.
Preston says the map promises drivers a through road to the gated community, but the road they end up taking dead-ends on his property, near his home.
He says he's been trying to get the issue fixed through Garmin since late September but has been getting the runaround.
Garmin officials tell KATU News they do their best at making sure maps are accurate, but a company called Navteq actually makes the maps for Garmin devices and they are the party that’s responsible for all the drivers coming up Preston’s driveway.
Garmin also said they've updated that map, but customers can’t get the upgrade until January 2010.
A quick test by KATU News using a Garmin GPS device with a current map showed that the device does indeed guide drivers right past the turn to the gated community and instead has them turn into Preston’s driveway.
Meanwhile, Preston says he seen up to eight drivers a week roll up his long driveway, then turn around.
He says the traffic is wearing away at the asphalt roadway leading to his home and is a nuisance and safety hazard. Preston has No Trespassing and Private Property signs posted along the driveway.
Preston said he contacted Garmin about installing a gate on his driveway until the map problem is fixed but was initially told no help was coming since drivers were warned by signage they were trespassing.
However, Garmin has recently relented and is working with Preston on a solution until the new GPS map is published.
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