Google Maps traffic how does it work?

[Saracen]

I find voice command on my Garmin works very well, but i've only used it for relatively basic functions. I don't know if it handles rerouting in response to holdups, etc, though it does offer rerouting.

[DanceswithUnix]

Does Google Maps do alternative Routes? I know on my TomTom, if there's a traffic incident, I can touch the screen to choose an alternative, but on a phone, it wouldn't be possible. Not sure if you could do it by voice?

As you are driving along, junctions where there is an alternative route will show how many minutes slower that route is expected to be compared to the main highlighted route. Just drive and take the route as advice, I quite often baulk at single track roads in routes and see how insistent the device is if I drive past or whether it finds another.

I have a steering wheel button to activate voice on the phone, seems ideal for that sort of thing but I never have cause to use it. Perhaps I should give that a go in Waze, if I can voice command "report accident" then that should route me another way and tell others that there is a problem. I should try reporting some broken down cars like that, plenty of those at the side of the road.

If you want an alternative dogging layby, I think you are on your own, sorry

Edit: My stand alone satnav has a battery so counts as a mobile device, I would worry that it is close enough to being a phone to be covered by that legislation.

[Spreadie]

I used my phone as a GPS in the van every day during may last job - it was, more often than not, spot on with journey times and traffic delays. My TomTom is just gathering dust now.

[Zak33]

I've used Waze for a week now.

I'm impressed with some and miffed with other parts.

Why does it default to Ahead is Up the screen? I can click the compass and turn North is Up as it should be, but then if I click any other options, it goes back to Ahead is Up. That drives me mad

but the ability for people to report incidents is v v effective.

In under 1 week I've seen a Tree Down showing as Obect in the road and it was good notice to have. And a broken down car showing as exactly that.. and both were excllent things to know about.

so it has a few good things.


But pinching the screen to see more map often moves the centre off, way more than Googlemaps does and then we're back to north not being up.

[wazzickle]

A couple of things:

If you're on a bus or train, you won't be using google maps to give you driving directions - you probably won't even have it open, but if you do, you'll likely be checking public transport, so it should be able to differentiate your data that way.

Regarding signal blackspots, it can still extrapolate a reasonably accurate time by looking at other users before and after they get through that blackspot. My local town, bradford on avon, has a lot of (variable) traffic, and it's very difficult to get signal at the centre of traffic, but gmaps still very accurately predicts how long my journey will take to get through.

[DanceswithUnix]

Why does it default to Ahead is Up the screen? I can click the compass and turn North is Up as it should be, but then if I click any other options, it goes back to Ahead is Up. That drives me mad

I find "North is up" works well if I basically know where I am, but in somewhere I don't know I have no idea which way is currently North so showing the map from my POV is easier.

I also prefer having the phone in landscape mode rather than portrait.

Regarding signal blackspots, it can still extrapolate a reasonably accurate time by looking at other users before and after they get through that blackspot.

I think the problem like with that tunnel is GPS reception rather than phone signal. It should be able to use the accelerometer and compass to judge where you are by dead reckoning, but it never seems to. But then Motorola cheaper out on my phone and didn't fit a compass!

[cheesemp]

I've used both quite a bit but keep going back to google maps as I like to know what possible alternative routes I can take will cost me in minutes (I prefer one of two possible routes home and will pick that over a few minutes saving as its less stressful). Waze just does the optimal route - If they added the alternate routes highlighting like google maps has I'd be using waze.

[iamlorro]

I've used both quite a bit but keep going back to google maps as I like to know what possible alternative routes I can take will cost me in minutes (I prefer one of two possible routes home and will pick that over a few minutes saving as its less stressful). Waze just does the optimal route - If they added the alternate routes highlighting like google maps has I'd be using waze.

Waze does do alternative routes - when you've got a destination set, tap on the ETA time and then a bar will pop up with routes. It shows you a bar with any items on the journey - traffic build up / user reports etc. There's the option of a map view too & you can select which one you prefer.

I have also learnt to trust that if Waze says get off the motorway, there is probably a big shunt up ahead and I do want to be on the backroads.

Yeah, some of the backroad ways are interesting, but the ETAs are scarily good.

[Saracen]

....

Edit: My stand alone satnav has a battery so counts as a mobile device, I would worry that it is close enough to being a phone to be covered by that legislation.

I don't think so.

The relevant legislation refers to mobile communications device, not mobile device, and (translating, not directly quoting) defines that as a device receiving and transmittig data, be it audio, video, voice, or text, or providing access to the internet. 2-way radios are excluded.

The caveats?

1) IANAL.

2) It may depend on the capabilities of your specific standalone. I don't regard mine as qualifying.. YMMV.

3) Ultimately, only a court can decide. The law is phrased a bit ambiguously, presumably to stop people wrigging out of liability by some technicality, but that inherently means a court has to decide, probably case by case .... just as it has to on what "using" means.

I think it's clear standalone satnavs aren't intended to be covered, but you are still subject to being in proper control of the vehicle, due care & attention, etc, so a standalone STILL has to be used cautiously.

[Zak33]

I'm confused by the Waze icons

they're so blummin small I don't know what they are, not while driving.

I think one of them is another Waze user! If so... that's odd.. I clicked it and I had the chance to beep him/her!!!

Screw that.

I could proper ruin someones day with that!

and WHY am I being awarded "sweets" for using Waze?

[Moby-Dick]

because Gamification

you can disable the icons for other waze users if you want.

having your friends show up is handy if you are in convoy though - as is the "send ETA" feature.

[Zak33]

convoy... genius!

[cheesemp]

Waze does do alternative routes - when you've got a destination set, tap on the ETA time and then a bar will pop up with routes. It shows you a bar with any items on the journey - traffic build up / user reports etc. There's the option of a map view too & you can select which one you prefer.

I did see that this week. To be honest its not the same. Google Maps shows the routes as you drive and when I get the motorway junction where I need to make the decision which route to take I can see on the map one is 2 minutes slower and just take that one if I prefer it. Waze I need to pre-pick the route. I've really tried this week to use waze however the alternate routes option of Google maps is just too useful. I can't wait until I get a car with Android auto so I can use Maps without mounting my phone...

[Butcher]

I believe the laws were tightened up in March so that touching it in any way during your journey is an offence:

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/...iving-12707634

Particularly:

There's a lot of misinformation about (not helped by the Police themselves spouting it as in that link!) The legislation did not change in March, only the penalties did. So anything that was legal before (hands-free use) is still legal.

The actual legislation is: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2...ulation/2/made

Specifically:
a mobile telephone or other device is to be treated as hand-held if it is, or must be, held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function;

If you put it in the cradle before you start the car and don't remove it until you have parked and turned the car off then you're fine is the short answer.