Google Navigation dynamic routing

[simon1]

Apparently it is supposed to offer a better route as you drive if the chosen one is jammed with traffic, etc. (I don't mean simply the choice of three routes when you first select your destination). I have yet to see this happen. Has anyone managed to get dynamic routing to work?

 

[SiempreTuna]

Nope.

I have noticed that it will calculate different routes at different times of day, but like you say, that's before setting off. In fact, if you diverge from the route because you hit traffic, while it will eventually give up trying to U turn you back to the blocked route, it's pretty darned persistent

To be fair, it could be that it doesn't have traffic information for the roads I'm on or the information isn't sufficiently up-to-date or isn't fine-grain enough.

 

[Goodspike]

With the close up view of the map it defaults to now, I wonder how most people would notice?

I had a Dash Express GPS that would clearly change your route, and it would do so either far too often or not often enough. The too often would be based on changing traffic data that was perhaps off. Fortunately it would ask first before changing the route. The not often enough would be because it wasn't very willing to take you off a major road unless you asked for a new route. That might be what's behind Google Navigation's issue. I don't see it ever really recommending back roads when first specifying a route.

 

[simon1]

According to all their blurb, it is supposed to use historic and actual data to offer a better route if one becomes available during the trip. Now, possibly this is only in the USA although I have not seen anything to confirm this.

It got ridiculous the other evening when it showed that an exit off the M25 was shut due to a collision, and yet at the same time it was showing that way as my route home! And that was when there is a perfectly decent alternative that I ended up deciding upon.

 

[SiempreTuna]

With the close up view of the map it defaults to now, I wonder how most people would notice?

Not quite sure I understand .. but it sounds good!

Does that mean I need to zoom in to get it to take traffic into account?

I don't see it ever really recommending back roads when first specifying a route.

Around my way, it frequently recommends single track roads - even one which, quite literally, has a stream running across it, complete with markers by the side to help you decide if you're going to make it across without drowning

 

[Goodspike]

Not quite sure I understand .. but it sounds good!

Does that mean I need to zoom in to get it to take traffic into account?

Sorry, I was being a bit of a smart-A complaining about the new Google Maps versions. It's actually the other way around. To see the traffic on the map you need to zoom out, not in.

As to an explanation of my complaint, to zoom out you need to either do some magic finger work or hit a menu then a choice, rather than just hitting a toggle button like in the old version. And while you're zoomed out it says "resume" as if you're not somehow still navigating. And in a sense you're not, because zoomed out you no longer get the ETA information.

So my comment was basically saying that Google has made it tougher for people to see the traffic, so how would they know whether or not it is navigating them around traffic?

 

[simon1]

Agreed. I far prefer the way the software used to be. Much more user-friendly.

But this dynamic routing is supposed to happen while in Navigation mode, ie, while you are in the 3d map just driving along the chosen route. It is supposed to offer a better route if one becomes available but I have yet to see it happen. And my episode with the M25 the other night just confirms to me that perhaps it's only in the US that it works.

 

[Stuntman]

With the close up view of the map it defaults to now, I wonder how most people would notice?

That is pretty much the reason I stopped using Google Maps the beginning of this year. I got tired of the auto zooming and it not remembering the zoom lever I liked. I got tired of having to set the zoom level every single time. The reason I use mapping apps is so I can see the traffic on the roads ahead. Google Maps just makes it too troublesome to do so.

I had a Dash Express GPS that would clearly change your route, and it would do so either far too often or not often enough. The too often would be based on changing traffic data that was perhaps off. Fortunately it would ask first before changing the route. The not often enough would be because it wasn't very willing to take you off a major road unless you asked for a new route. That might be what's behind Google Navigation's issue. I don't see it ever really recommending back roads when first specifying a route.

Waze is what I switched to and it does reroute you mid route if there is a faster route. When it does find a better route, it notifies you that it has found a better route. You have the choice of not rerouting by making the selection on the screen. Waze also remembers the zoom level I always use, so I don't have to always reset the zoom.

 

[Digital Controller]

I have had Google recalculate when it notices an accident up ahead or finds a better route, maybe my maps is just better

No, but really I wonder why you guys aren't have the same results...This summer when I was driving there was a wreck 5 miles down the road and google told me to get off the highway and take a detour...

 

[Goodspike]

I tend to drive at times and places without traffic. Today I did get caught, but the backup was only .3 miles, so it probably didn't bother.

 

[simon1]

I have had Google recalculate when it notices an accident up ahead or finds a better route, maybe my maps is just better

No, but really I wonder why you guys aren't have the same results...This summer when I was driving there was a wreck 5 miles down the road and google told me to get off the highway and take a detour...

I'm beginning to suspect that this feature is only in the US. Although we do get the icons that show accidents and roadworks, it's a shame the most important of these features isn't available here in the UK.

I may have a look at Waze (Google own them anyway). How up to date are the Waze maps or do they use Google's maps?

 

[Goodspike]

Don't worry that Google Maps doesn't have all the features you want. They added a Santa Tracker (check the bottom menu item). That should be all you really need. /sarc

 

[Goodspike]

Not only do they have time to add Santa Tracker, they also just totally messed up my version of Google Maps on the desktop. I'd heard people complain about that for months, but mine hadn't changed over.

Really nice to have a bunch of pointless pop ups cover your route so that you can't see the traffic information.

 

[Petrah]

Waze is actually really good at this since it relies on real time information input by other Waze users.

 

[rcaine]

.
I may have a look at Waze (Google own them anyway). How up to date are the Waze maps or do they use Google's maps?

Waze maps are much more up-todate than any of the rivals. It allows users (Wazers) to submit changes and reports of accidents/constructions/changes which update within days. Google owns them now and some of their traffic alerts are stating to pop up on google maps. It is very strong on reporting current traffic speed since it's information is crowd sourced.

 

[Petrah]

It allows users (Wazers) to submit changes and reports of accidents/constructions/changes which update within days.

Having used this on one of our trips, it updates user input pretty much in real time. Like accidents and speed traps for example. If I'm 20 miles ahead of you and report an accident, you'll get that update before you get to the accident. If you're further behind me and the accident is all cleared up, you'll have the option to report that as well, which updates right away.

 

[Stuntman]

Waze maps are much more up-todate than any of the rivals. It allows users (Wazers) to submit changes and reports of accidents/constructions/changes which update within days. Google owns them now and some of their traffic alerts are stating to pop up on google maps. It is very strong on reporting current traffic speed since it's information is crowd sourced.

Waze actually allows users to actually edit maps. I've done some editing myself. Some roads require a certain level of access, so you'll have to find a user who has a high enough level to edit it. They have a forum where you can post requests to unlock certain areas to allow editing or you can simply post and ask someone to change it.

 

[Rukbat]

I'm beginning to suspect that this feature is only in the US. Although we do get the icons that show accidents and roadworks, it's a shame the most important of these features isn't available here in the UK.

Google doesn't get the data, it only receives the data from other sources. Most major metro areas in the US now have traffic networks that keep abreast of the current conditions on any stretch of major (2 lanes in each direction or more) roads. If the UK had such information available as a consumable (by software) resource, Google might add it in.

That said, I prefer Mapquest, just because I've been using it since it first came on the scene. If there's a problem ahead, it usually gives me a screen with 2 or 3 bars (wide buttons), allowing me to choose which alternate route, if any, I prefer. It also estimates the time saved for each alternate.

When I lived in the NYC area it worked like a charm. The road networks there are excellent - we even have signs telling us, in real time, how long it's going to take to get from where we are to a few exists a few miles down the road. (Many cars have RFIDs in them for tolls, and the networks actually track them for travel time determination). But now that I live in a town I can drive across in 15 minutes, a "major tie-up" is 2 or 3 minutes, so I almost always flick the "don't bother" button. (In the NYC area, a "minor glitch" is a 2 hour delay - a major accident turns a double 4 lane highway into a 20 mile long parking lot for hours.)

 

[SiempreTuna]

Plenty of realtime traffic information is available in the UK, but I suspect Google would have to pay to be able to use it

Re the OP about having to zoom out to get traffic info: that really is annoying! Basically, you need to have already been stopped by the jam in order to be able to see it

 

[Goodspike]

Re the OP about having to zoom out to get traffic info: that really is annoying! Basically, you need to have already been stopped by the jam in order to be able to see it

Ahhhh, how would you possible see it if you were zoomed in? It would be off your screen!

What's annoying is that Google Navigation now treats being zoomed out as being abnormal (e.g. "Resume" button, no ETA information, etc). Zoomed out is how I typically use GPS devices. I only zoom in when I get close to my destination.

 

[Digital Controller]

Plenty of realtime traffic information is available in the UK, but I suspect Google would have to pay to be able to use it

Re the OP about having to zoom out to get traffic info: that really is annoying! Basically, you need to have already been stopped by the jam in order to be able to see it

Why not query google on why they haven't enabled this feature yet, as I assume they pay for the traffic updates in the US.

 

[Stuntman]

Ahhhh, how would you possible see it if you were zoomed in? It would be off your screen!

What's annoying is that Google Navigation now treats being zoomed out as being abnormal (e.g. "Resume" button, no ETA information, etc). Zoomed out is how I typically use GPS devices. I only zoom in when I get close to my destination.

That is another thing I hate about Google Maps. I had to zoom back in to check my ETA and then zoom out again to get a wide angle view of my drive ahead. Very annoying.

 

[Goodspike]

That is another thing I hate about Google Maps. I had to zoom back in to check my ETA and then zoom out again to get a wide angle view of my drive ahead. Very annoying.

That was a change with the new version.

 

[Stuntman]

That was a change with the new version.

I just updated it and it still does not show the ETA on the wide angle view.

 

[Digital Controller]

I just updated it and it still does not show the ETA on the wide angle view.

Yeah it still doesn't show the ETA, however, I know you can zoom out more and it will still show the ETA, just is a little touchy