Cruising down avenues and winding through backstreets, Google Street View cars have become ubiquitous cartographers, stitching together a virtual replica of our planet. Equipped with an arsenal of high-resolution cameras, these vehicles tirelessly document the world in 360-degree panoramas.
The sheer volume of data they gather is staggering enough to virtually encircle the Earth over 400 times. This constant presence on our roads means that encountering a Google Street View car is no longer a surprise. However, a recent incident in Greece involving one of these vehicles shed light on an unexpected gap in Google’s operations.
This discovery raises questions about how such a tech giant could overlook a seemingly basic requirement like proper car insurance.
Driving on Greek roads can be risky due to the high number of uninsured vehicles. Estimates suggest over half a million cars cruise the highways without mandatory insurance, raising concerns about safety and financial responsibility in case of accidents.
Adding to the problem, many of these uninsured vehicles likely haven’t passed the required inspection, though the exact number remains unclear. Lawmakers have proposed solutions, including a centralized digital system to verify both insurance and inspection status. However, these regulations haven’t been implemented yet.
It’s important to note that Google’s Street View data collection sometimes involves contractors, who are responsible for their vehicles’ compliance. Google itself might also hire individual drivers for new regions. While anyone can contribute Street View imagery with a backpack camera, everyone undergoes training to ensure high-quality uploads.
