911AddressorInNM

Hi Everyone!
I am not a trucker, but I am related to some, both current and previous. I assign road names and 911 addresses, GPS locations and roadways and create maps for my local government for the purpose of 911 response. My location data is required to be within 3 feet in accuracy for emergency responders.
I would just like to invite any and all persons, whether you are a trucker or not, to explore local mapping data that is available through many county websites all across the nation, over that of the large internet companies mapping websites. These website maps are created in general, by people who sit in offices thousands of miles away, looking at old areial imagery. My county in New Mexico has a fantastic website where you can search accurate addressing data and road data. We have a terrible problem with one internet web mapping company inparticular that will not take local authority changes to it's map. Consequently, they route truckers through residential neighborhoods when they should not. Trucks are creating damage to personal and private property and getting stuck in tight locations. Sometimes they even create dangerous situations for both residents and the trucker. In many cases these sites have addresses posted anywhere from 3-12 miles from where they really are. They make up their own locations for roads and have them completely incorrect, or make up roads names for oil field only accesses or goat trails. They are posting these as 2 lane, 25 mph public routes when they are private accesses locked on one or both ends or are impassible. This can seriously cause a problem for large vehicles if there is no room to turn around, or you get so far down what is supposed to be a road and it disapppears.

Not all counties or cities have an internet site, and not all internet web mapping companies are as bad as others. But if you are ever in doubt, local authorities generally are willing to help. Try looking up local authorities in the phonebook: Addressing, GIS, mapping even the nonemergency line to your dispatch center.... Especially if the turnoff of a highway doesn't look just right.

In short, I just wanted to make you aware, that local authorities are generally willing to help you find accurate data or give you real directions if you need them. Just a thought.....
Thanks for listening.