What a world we live in where we can speak a few words into our cell phones or computers and come up with perfect directions, right? Wrong! Directions can't be trusted, no matter where they've come from. And after this article, we're pretty sure drivers will think twice about how closely they follow their GPS devices.

Googled directions can't normally account for sudden construction or detours and, sometimes, the path less traveled is not always the best way to go.

While Robert Frost was talking about hoofing it on foot, we're talking about keeping our cars from floating around in the nearest river. Or slopping through a mud pit. Or off railroad tracks. It's not always pretty, it's definitely not smart, and none of it makes any sense.

With a little common sense, we, too, can avoid ending up in situations like this...

20 It Provided Directions, Alright... Right Into A Mud Pit

The worst part about this is that it happened this year... in 2019. Back in June, dozens of drivers attempted to re-route their directions when encountering a detour in Denver. They all ended up following the same dirt road, leaving them in a sticky situation... literally, they were stuck in the mud.

19 Watch Those Right Turns, Especially In NYC

New York City can be quite confusing, especially to tourists who have never been there. It's never recommended to drive around the city without first knowing where you're going, but apparently, for one man, that rule didn't apply. Taking a hasty right turn, his GPS pointed him down the steps of Riverside Park.

18 Note To Australian Tourists: Ferries Are Required To Cross Water

Directions are never foolproof and this story is both case and point. When a group of tourists from Japan decided to visit Australia, they got a very unexpected, soggy surprise. Their directions somehow didn't account for miles of water between them and their destination, thus leading them directly into the body of water.

17 Not Every Map Assumes The Right Direction, Some People Drive The Wrong Way For Hours

Maps aren't particularly intelligent but then again, people sometimes aren't too bright, either. For instance, when a woman attempted to pick up her friend from a destination that was not nearly as far away as she ended up - from Brussels all the way to Germany. She claimed she was 'distracted' while following the GPS.

16 A 'Path' Is Definitely Not The Same As A 'Road'

Often, dirt roads can look similar to paths, especially if they're wide. At least, that's what happened to one man who attempted to drive through West Yorkshire in England. The unexpected surprise came when he found himself nearly hanging off the edge of a 100-foot cliff drop after following his 'directions'.

15 Boat Ramps Look Like Off-Ramps In The Dark, Right?

It's easy to mistake certain roads in the dark, but it's pretty flippin' difficult to mistake a lake for some time of freeway. A group of tourists visiting Washington had this issue when trying to find the way back to their hotel around midnight, but they instead ended up driving straight into a lake, successfully sinking their SUV (everyone was fine, though).

14 Fog Is Always Dangerous, But Even More So When Following A GPS

A word of caution: When following voice directions, be wary of your surroundings in fog. Back in 2011, a man was driving his family through New Jersey on a particularly foggy night and for some reason, didn't realize when his GPS was about to drive him straight into the side of a house.

13 Sure, Follow A Google Voice Over The Road Signs

Signs are there for a reason and it's usually not just for our amusement. In Germany, one man found this out the hard way when he ignored his gut and instead followed his GPS. This simple decision landed him halfway up a cherry tree and, needless to say, he did not arrive at his destination on time.

12 'Closed For Construction' Usually Means What It Says

For some reason, many humans think that ignoring construction signs is a proper use of their time. Googled directions have an excuse - they lack the intelligence it takes to realize certain roads are closed off. Some people, though, ignore this and end up driving through construction zones and into sandpits instead... yes, it happened.

11 Spelling Mistakes Aren't Something A GPS Is Designed To Handle

We get it, driving in other countries can be really confusing. What we don't understand is not double-checking our map directions, especially when we're in unfamiliar territory. That's how one couple ended up in Carpi, Italy, rather than their intended destination of Capri.

10 Map Errors Do Happen, Be Aware Of Potentially Hazardous Conditions

Despite what a GPS tells you, it's always smart to be aware of what you're heading into. This is a warning that one man refused to heed, even though he passed several warning signs to avoid entry and turn around. Thus, the story ends with a Mercedes Benz breaking through onto a (barricaded) construction site.

9 Maps + Railroad Tracks + Adult Beverages Do Not Mix

While being influenced by adult drinks, one man didn't realize that he was following his GPS straight onto a set of train tracks in East Yorkshire. Luckily, train workers were able to contact the police before anything serious happened, but man, what a dangerously wild ride.

8 Park Steps Are Not A Shortcut, Especially In A Limo

In Salzburg, Austria, of all places, is not somewhere you'd want to stage a scene... especially not in a limo. However, that's exactly what one man did when he followed his GPS right down a set of park steps. Man, what is it with parks and poor directions? These aren't roads, people!

7 Goat Paths, Dirt Roads, Not Much Of A Difference In Switzerland

Switzerland is full of beauty and nature, deserving of being taken in. One man thought he'd go the extra step and take it in via a car ride, which was, of course, led by a set of wonky directions. Instead, he ended up driving down a narrow goat path before being halted by authorities halfway up a mountain.

6 There Are Roads In Boston, No Need To Drive On Train Tracks

Most people are able to differentiate between train tracks and the road... except for one woman in Boston. The scary thing is that she was simply following her GPS and had kids in the car. Thankfully, she was able to abandon the car (and we're hoping, her GPS) before a train came down the tracks.

5 A Short Trip Turns Into Makeshift Camping Because Of A GPS In The Oregon Backcountry

When the going gets tough, the tough get driving... and driving... and driving. One couple in Oregon is guilty of taking this course of action when their GPS took them down an old logging road, warped with fallen trees. They finally gave in and contacted the cops after two days of living out of their car.

4 Bike Trails Are Not Roads... Unless The Map Tells Us Otherwise

Aside from the obvious danger this poses to bikers, this is just ignorant. It was a late night when a Florida man, under the direction of his GPS, drove himself and his family down a bike path thinking it was just a narrow road. After concerned phone calls from observers, he was eventually stopped before anything serious happened.

3 The Intended Destination Was Pennsylvania... He Ended Up In Canada

We're not even quite sure how this happened. Somehow, a man attempting to get to Pennsylvania from New York was re-routed to go through Canada, and he didn't realize until he was already on the other side. This obviously created a challenge when coming back to the states, thus ensuring him a spot on the 'no re-entry' list.

2 Apple Maps: Directing People To Plane Runways Since 2013

Back in 2013, there was a pretty famous Apple maps error that was taking people onto an active plane runway in Alaska. Aside from being dangerous and potentially fatal, it caused major problems for those responsible for directing the planes as well. The tarmac has since been heavily barricaded.

1 Most Cars Can't Float, Especially When Driven Down A Boat Ramp, In Alaska Of All Places

Alas, we arrive in Alaska once again. One man mistook his GPS directions for an actual, well-thought-out recommendation and, after driving off the harbor ferry, drove his car right back into the Prince William Sound. Sadly, his cat didn't make it, but both he and his dog, who was also in the car, made it out in time.