It’s remarkable how technological advancements have revolutionized our lives. With simple service applications available on our smartphones, life has become much easier and more convenient. One of the most essential of these applications is GPS (Global Positioning System), which helps you navigate to destinations you have never visited before. However, it’s crucial to use this service with caution to avoid mishaps, as demonstrated by a story involving an elderly Belgian woman who found herself in an entirely different country.
The incident occurred in 2013 when 67-year-old Sabine Moreau set out from her hometown of Solre-sur-Sambre in Belgium to pick up a friend at a train station in Brussels, just 38 miles north of her home. To simplify her journey, she used GPS, which directed her to drive south. Following these instructions, she ended up driving for two full days, covering a distance of 900 miles and passing through four countries: France, Germany, Austria, and Slovenia, only to find herself in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia.
Sabine’s journey was unusual; she stopped twice for fuel, took a few hours’ rest by the roadside, and even had a minor car accident. When asked how she didn’t notice the mistake over such a long distance, she explained that she felt something was off but was distracted by the situation. She said:
“I was disoriented, so I kept driving. I saw all kinds of road signs – first in French, then German, and signs indicating Cologne, Aachen, and Frankfurt. Soon, the signs switched to Croatian, but I kept driving until I suddenly found myself in Zagreb, realizing that I was no longer in Belgium.”
Her disappearance raised concerns for her son, who contacted the police. They began a search but couldn’t find her until she called him from Zagreb. She then embarked on the return trip to her hometown, which took 60 hours and covered the same 900 miles, this time following correct GPS directions.
A police spokesperson commented that while GPS systems can cause issues, this incident was unusual and unprecedented. Nevertheless, the spokesperson emphasized that the woman did nothing wrong and that her account should be believed.
