Google Maps providing incorrect speed limits on Kildare roads

A recent meeting heard that Google Maps is causing problems on Kildare’s roads by displaying incorrect speed limits to drivers. Kildare County Council is set to write to the technology company asking them to address the inaccuracies.

Cathaoirleach Tim Durkan brought forward a motion at September’s meeting of the local authority, proposing ‘that the council writes to Google requesting them to review the stated speed limits on their navigation services as they are currently misleading and inaccurate’.

Director of Services Siobhán Scully issued the council’s response, outlining that physical road signs determine the legal speed limit. The council does not provide speed-limit information directly to navigation companies.

The councillors were also told that it was a matter for them to decide whether to write to Google.

Cllr Durkan said that he learned during recent visits to Athy that Google Maps is displaying a 100 km/h speed limit on the town’s main street, which is clearly incorrect.

Councillors Brian O’Loughlin, Chris Pender, Peter Melrose and Noel Heavey all voiced support for the motion.

It was agreed that the letter would be written, and that Apple would also be sent the letter.

Cllr Melrose flagged an issue with some modern cars which, he said, “using their adaptive cruise control system, take their direction from Google Maps, not necessarily the speed limit signs”.

Cllr O’Loughlin asked that another matter be raised with Google in the letter. He said that constituents have told him that Google Maps has displayed their postcodes in the wrong locations. He said that one woman in her eighties had to go outside and wait for an ambulance that was coming for her husband, who was “dying inside”. The council executive told him that he was “deviating from the motion”.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme