Crackpots going over the edge!

[Anita]

[jonajuna]

as i said i havent physically seen it but having driven 3500 miles across the aussie outback inside 2 weeks, i still suspect that if there is a gravel track, its navigable.

steepness has a limit of approx 1:2.5, any steeper and youll need a plane, anything less and any 4 wheeled vehicle will get up it, the limit comes on engine grunt and strength of your clutch. although traction is undoubtedle an issue, gravel unless very loose, tends to be fine for 2 wheel drive, its mud, grass and big holes for when awd is required (unless you want to go fast of course, then awd will help on any surface)

sheer drop or oncoming traffic at 70mph+ the outcome and risk is the same, its only the perception of danger that changes.

if its wide enough for chelsea tractors and landies, its wide enough for a car

i suspect the main factor in why people cant navigate it successfully is because 90% of the drivers on our roads, shouldnt be

;)

[RoyC]

I have only just caught up with this news item so I am sorry if it is old news but I feel I have to comment.

I agree with most people here - it takes a very special kind of prat to take this route given the obvious problems which must be clear to anyone using it long before they would be any danger BUT

I live on a road which is also 'difficult' for anything larger than a transit van but TomTom uses it as a route betwen two largish towns. It is true to say that , while TT encourages a driver to use this road, there are signs which warn of impending doom if you actually go any further on the road - but most people do - particluarly foreign drivers in big trucks.

I also drive a largish MotorHome and tend to rely on TT whilst away on holiday. I try to apply a fair degree of sceptism to any suggested turning which looks a bit dodgy to me but I have to say that sometimes it isn't always that obvious that the road will , eventually, become a problem for my vehicle and on several occasions it has been necessary to reverse up quite narrow, twisty lanes to get out of trouble.

I think that it should first be acknowledged that there are limitations in the current SatNav technology. I see it admitted here all the time but I guarantee that you wont get TT to admit it - I have tried.

One day, when either the mapping improves or the routing algorithms are improved the problems will go away but at this point in time thay are really only a solution for people in cars but little benefit if your vehicle is larger than that.

Roy

[Anita]

[RoyC]

Anita - I accept that, and you are probably correct in saying that TT probably say something similar but it's a bit of a 'cop out' really. I am not sugesting that one should do without a paper map completely but it is unreasonable to expect someone to check every electronic route on a paper map before embarking on it, although it is not unreasonable to expect someone to read a sign.

The paper maps aimed at road navigation would , in any case, not carry adequate data to indicate non navigable roads and one would have to carry a fairly extensive range of O.S quality maps for everywhere you visit to do that anyway.

As it happens I love TT and even though I understand it's limitations I still get benefit from it when driving the MotorHome. But I can understand how one could find oneself in 'unnavigable waters' very easily because of either inadequate electronic maps or suspct routing algorithms - I have been there myself.

As a matter of interest I mentioned earlier that I live on a road which should not really be included in any route and is adquately marked as such by road signs but many ( usually foreign truck drivers) either choose to ignore the signs or think they can push their way through and every week we get at least one large truck stuck in this road requiring a recovery by a haulage company locally. I have seen brand new caravans virtually ruined by using this road and on one occasion serious injury was caused.

In the case mentioned above the teleatlas maps do appear to indicate a problem with the road but TT appears to ignore this in it's routing algorithm. I have had contact with TT who blame Teleatlas but in this case the maps are actually correct and it certainly gives me the impression that TT are not too bothered.

I only own TT so I cannot compare it with an y other Satnav product - maybe one of the others is better - if so I wish I knew which one because I would happily change.

It would really be nice if the product reviews on this site paid attention to'this aspect - i.e. the routing problems of larger vehicles but they don't. I

[MikeB]

[alix776]

as mike has said it is a problem as bad routing only comes through experience and using a product over time unfortunatly the site cant provide me with every satnav product going (as currently im the only one drive anything bigger than a car on a daytoday basis and then recording the route is night on impossibledue to various reasons that affect only veihcles my size ie weight restractions) to try out to test as im usually working but could just be on a motorway runs all week have alook at the copilot smartphone id did a while back
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/copilot6smartphone.php
_________________
currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .

Oh the joys of being a courier.
device Lumia 950 xl

[mb]

Why are we getting so many stories now of people being sent on incorrect routes by Sat Nav systems. Just over a week ago there was the story of the ambulance using VDO Dayton equipment being sent over an incorrect route.

I am used to my Sat Nav system trying to send me down farm tracks, unclassified roads etc but have always blamed it on the maps not having been updated for a few years - it is almost cheaper to just buy a new GPS.

If I selected "shortest route" then I would understand it but surely "fastest route" should find the fastest route on main roads and only use unclassified roads when there is no alternative.

I have used Autoroute for many years and it is quite capable of giving priority to main roads.

Is it lack of memory capacity in Sat Nav units? Poor quality map data? Poor quality software?

It is too easy to blame the driver but I want accurate directions that are easy to understand. I sometimes wonder if there has been too much concentration on all the fancy features in a competitive market and not enough on the core function of a Sat Nav unit.

MB

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