By Tyler Wright
Uber has taken action to divert drivers from a dangerous road in Olinda after pressure from Yarra Ranges Council and a local resident.
Bill Pizzey raised the alarm with the delivery giant, and Google Maps, after finding Uber drivers in a ditch on Hacketts Road after losing traction on the street’s bend.
“There’s probably been about six or eight that I’ve seen stuck in the road in the last two years or so, that’s only when I see them going past,” Mr Pizzey said.
“The driver is implicitly trusting the Uber to send them the right direction.”
In April, Google confirmed it marked Hacketts Road as a restricted-usage road, redirecting motorists to Olinda-Monbulk Road rather than the Perrins Creek entry.
“We use a variety of sources to get the most accurate and up to date information on the map, and we use a combination of manual and automated techniques to check for accuracy. When there’s an issue, we work to fix them as quickly as we can,” a Google spokesperson said at the time.
Yarra Ranges Council also contacted Uber in June 2023, requesting the company to update their maps to prevent accidents.
“Years ago, we updated signage on the road to warn drivers approaching that they can only continue along Hacketts Road if they are using a four-wheel-drive vehicle,” Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Infrastructure and Built Environment, Hjalmar Philipp, said.
“We have also asked these companies to re-route their maps to prevent incorrect directions. Some drivers may be continuing to ignore or miss these signs.”
On Friday 30 June, an Uber spokesperson confirmed Hacketts Road had been excluded from its navigation.
Mr Philipp said teams are arranging photo-luminescent replacements for the four wheel-drive only signs so they are more visible at night and in poor weather.
“The road is graded four times a year, with the most recent grading occurring in May, to ensure it is safe and usable for four-wheel-drives travelling through the area,” he said.
“We strongly advise community members and visitors to be mindful of driving and to drive to conditions, especially in areas they are not familiar with.”
