Shorter/Fastest Route - which is best?

Minx

Apologies if this has been covered before I have done a search but got little back.

I'm still getting to grips with my SPi3. I wonder if any of the ol' pro's here can tell me which works the better for them whether it be the Shorter or the Fastest Route setting? Or if there isn't much in it...

lbendlin · Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 12:52 am Post subject:

"shortest" is generally reserved for special occasions like scenic bike rides where you want to avoid highways. Most of the time "fastest" is what you want.
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Minx · Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:09 am Post subject:

Excellent questioned answered. Thanks :D

Skippy · Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:09 am Post subject:

I agree with Lutz. I sometimes use shortest in heavily built-up areas or when I hit heavy traffic or for short trips in town.

The problem is that it can take you through some odd places. Mine took me down a series of country lanes in Cornwall and I ended up having to ford a river at one stage. It does get you there though! Laughing

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Minx · Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:13 am Post subject:

Thanks Skippy i'll bear that in mind when im nearing a river. Laughing

cantgetlost · Frequent Visitor Joined: Nov 14, 2005 Posts: 291

"OLD" Yes! "PRO" NO.
If you have a read through my post at "I3 Routing" thread I have made some points there about the two options.
Basically fastest route takes you on faster roads. Around Leeds,London, Plymouth and Bridtol I found staying on fastest route had I3 routing me to ring roads and by-pass routes and could actually take me out of town around motorways and DualC's and drop me in the other side of the destination from the point I started from. It works some times being faster, but I factor in city traffic flow around rush hour peak times as it can take you furtefer than you need to go. (This is OK if you know a bit about where you are going ).
As said before, I find a quick look at the chosen destination on say multimap and then pair with I3 route and decide if switching to shortest route maybe a better option when you get to the motorway exit nearest to your chosen destination.

Minx · Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:27 pm Post subject:

Great thanks for the tip. Wink

Minx · Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:14 pm Post subject:

Ta crazylegs.

rossb · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 12:10 am Post subject:

I think that for city driving or heavy traffic conditions, you want the shortest route.

For longer journeys e.g inter city, or in a rural setting, you want the fastest route.

I think it is a good idea to compare the summary of time/distance for both route types.

charlies · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 12, 2005 Posts: 41

How does it know the quickest vs shortest, is this based on road type. ie motorway/A road/B road etc.

I ask because A roads roads are most prone to congestion and having speed cameras.

My route into Leeds if I followed the Garmins advice is littered with speed cameras and congestion, so I go my own way and save about twenty mins (8 mile journey)

I assume it must go on road type, otherwise it would have to know all speed limits to calculate and could optionally warn if you are over.

I love the I3, and rely on it for getting me to places I have never visited previously, but I would never take it's route around where I live!!

Did anyone see the Top Gear episode where someone used the AA Planner for a journey of about 20 miles, I think it was somewhere in the midlands, but asked it to avoid (I think) the M5? It took them via Northern Ireland and France!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess you either trust them or not!!!

Are the units that know of traffic jams etc more reliable?

rossb · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:59 pm Post subject:

how does it know quickest versus shortest?
I think the shortest route function simply ignores road speed considerations in the calculation, and comes up with a logical route.

The quickest is simply a calculation choosing the fastest roads, but ignoring the distance.

Both methods are valid, see my post earlier on which I would choose and when.

As an example, I tried Exchange street, Sheffield to Rotherham interchange. On my C320, shortest route is 7M in 17:41. Fastest route is 9.8M 14:28. In this city driving example, fastest route is inefficient, as you would queue in traffic for an extra 3 miles!

are traffic units more reliable? I am not convinced, have a look at the forum on TMC.

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