Nevertheless, a single incorrect turn combined with a malfunctioning GPS can lead to unforeseen complications, as experienced by a Belgian woman.
Sabine Moreau began her journey from her home in Hainault Erquelinnes intending to pick up a friend from Gare du Nord in Brussels, a location less than 90 miles away.
What was supposed to be a two-hour drive turned into an unexpected two-day ordeal when she ended up going ‘missing’.
Because of a GPS malfunction, she unknowingly traveled across Europe, crossing five international borders, and found herself 900 miles away in Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, before realizing she had made several wrong turns.
Throughout her unintended journey, she stopped for gas twice and slept in her car by the roadside, according to reports from local news outlets.
In an interview with El Mundo, Moreau explained: “I was distracted, so I kept on the accelerator.
“I saw all kinds of signs, first in French, then in German and finally in Croatian, but I kept driving because I was distracted.”
Moreau’s friend eventually returned home without the intended ride, prompting her son to file a missing person’s report with the police.
Authorities finally located Moreau, who confessed that she did not realize her mistake until she reached Croatia.
She stated: “Until I suddenly appeared in Zagreb and then it dawned on me that I was no longer in Belgium.
“I admit it’s a bit strange, but I was distracted.”
The unusual event sparked discussions on Reddit, with users expressing concern about how she failed to recognize the error for such a prolonged period.
One user commented: “I don’t understand how someone could be so distracted that they don’t notice a two hour drive turned into a two day drive.”
Another remarked: “I shudder to think I share the road with these people.”
A third added: “I really wonder how the hell they get their licenses in the first place.”
Some users highlighted that Belgium’s driving regulations were relatively relaxed, with a mandatory driving test introduced only in 1977.
“So it’s quite possible the older drivers you encounter never had to take one,” another Redditor mentioned.
Others shared similar experiences with GPS issues, though they managed to realize their mistakes much sooner than embarking on a 48-hour deviation.