Traffic Info - No better than a coin toss?
#1
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I live on Long Island and drive to and from Manhattan and Queens regularly. I have found the traffic data displayed on the Nav map to be highly unreliable. I thought the real-time data was partly derived from transponders in taxis, trucks, delivery services, etc. Why is the data so unreliable, then?
I have learned to completely disregard the black arrows (or lack of them) when planning a route. I will probably soon turn off the service in iDrive so it doesn't distract me.
Has anyone found the traffic info to be useful?
I have learned to completely disregard the black arrows (or lack of them) when planning a route. I will probably soon turn off the service in iDrive so it doesn't distract me.
Has anyone found the traffic info to be useful?
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Better to listen to the traffic reports from CBS or WINS
#3
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Originally Posted by tesla' post='529329' date='Feb 9 2008, 02:51 PM
I live on Long Island and drive to and from Manhattan and Queens regularly. I have found the traffic data displayed on the Nav map to be highly unreliable. I thought the real-time data was partly derived from transponders in taxis, trucks, delivery services, etc. Why is the data so unreliable, then?
I have learned to completely disregard the black arrows (or lack of them) when planning a route. I will probably soon turn off the service in iDrive so it doesn't distract me.
Has anyone found the traffic info to be useful?
I have learned to completely disregard the black arrows (or lack of them) when planning a route. I will probably soon turn off the service in iDrive so it doesn't distract me.
Has anyone found the traffic info to be useful?
As I understand, it takes 5-10 minutes for information to be updated, not quite real time but better than nothing. Like any new technology it will likely get better over time. I have seen it tell me to re-route due to an accident, but the accident was already clear and traffic was moving. I do wish there was a setting to say only attempt to re-route when the delay is 5, 10, 15, 30 minutes. I don't remember what the default is but I think it's 5 minutes. Would be nice if that was user selectable.
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Actually I have found it to be accurate although having the information may or may not be of value.
For example, when I was driving from Munich to Hamburg, I was warned of a significant traffic problem ahead - and given the opportunity to reroute. The problem is that the rerouting would take me off an Autobahn and onto a Landstra?e (not even a Bundesstra?e). So I tried the rerouting and ended up getting back on the Autobahn and dealing with the very slow traffic.
On the other hand, I was driving on the Long Island Autobahn when I got a warning that the road was closed ahead. Indeed, it was and I exited in time and later heard on the radio that the road had been closed due to a severe accident.
My take is that this is useful information to have but you cannot rely upon it 100% (just like radio traffic reports - sometimes they are an hour behind in reporting that a stoppage has cleared etc.)
For example, when I was driving from Munich to Hamburg, I was warned of a significant traffic problem ahead - and given the opportunity to reroute. The problem is that the rerouting would take me off an Autobahn and onto a Landstra?e (not even a Bundesstra?e). So I tried the rerouting and ended up getting back on the Autobahn and dealing with the very slow traffic.
On the other hand, I was driving on the Long Island Autobahn when I got a warning that the road was closed ahead. Indeed, it was and I exited in time and later heard on the radio that the road had been closed due to a severe accident.
My take is that this is useful information to have but you cannot rely upon it 100% (just like radio traffic reports - sometimes they are an hour behind in reporting that a stoppage has cleared etc.)
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I have found it to be useful in Charlotte but it tends to "cry wolf" at times. I read that it picks up the information from digital broadcasts from local radio. I-77 in the morning is always crowded and slow. I almost always see the triangles. It shows enough information (expected delay, cause, etc) to make a judgement call on avoding the route. When programming work as a destination, I have seen it show an odd route due to an incident. The other morning, I ignored the advice and found I-77 to be no worse than normal.
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Even within the NYC area,I find realtime traffic info reliable, but what device in our region can truly do the job all the time? Outside NYC it is extremely useful.
So in conclusion, I'd say it is far better than a coin toss.
So in conclusion, I'd say it is far better than a coin toss.
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At least you guys have your sat nav 'traffic info' working...in my country, 'traffic info' in my country doesn't even work...everytime i go to traffic info menu, it displays & remarks 'currently no reception'... :thumbsdown:
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Originally Posted by bmw_wpq31' post='529397' date='Feb 9 2008, 10:34 PM
At least you guys have your sat nav 'traffic info' working...in my country, 'traffic info' in my country doesn't even work...everytime i go to traffic info menu, it displays & remarks 'currently no reception'... :thumbsdown:
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The problem I have is that only major routes show traffic problems. So it says "reroute?" and hit yes, on to a road that looks clear - only to find that it's just as bad as the road you were on (often worse), but there is no traffic monitoring there.
I find the traffic warnings useful to tell me I'm going to be home late, but not for rerouting.
I find the traffic warnings useful to tell me I'm going to be home late, but not for rerouting.
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Originally Posted by Russ1974' post='529704' date='Feb 10 2008, 06:34 PM
The problem I have is that only major routes show traffic problems. So it says "reroute?" and hit yes, on to a road that looks clear - only to find that it's just as bad as the road you were on (often worse), but there is no traffic monitoring there.
I find the traffic warnings useful to tell me I'm going to be home late, but not for rerouting.
I find the traffic warnings useful to tell me I'm going to be home late, but not for rerouting.
Yesterday, driving I-95 south of Fort Lauderdale, system told me there was heavy traffic, and I was already in it, almost to a stop, so I re-routed, it ended up being even worse, so , the info is valid, but I won't let the system decide for me , I will never again re-route.