Google Maps App Lying About Alt Travel Routes?

Mark Hamill

Anybody notice Google Maps alternative routes, lets say, not giving reliable times?

Basically, when I leave work (Greenhills Rd, near Walkinstown roundabout) I can turn left or right to reach the M50 and usually Google maps sends me left as it is shorter (~55 min total journey with right offered as alternative usually with 1-2 min longer). Recently Google maps has been sending me right, with left as alternative with 14-17 mins longer. Traffic can back up from the M50, so I had been following the route, but the other day I turned left anyway and when the route reset to the left turn, it was went from 56 mins to 54 mins (i.e it didnt jump to 70+mins).


I thought this might have been just a one time thing, but the same thing happened yesterday when going home and exiting the M50 at the N3 junction. You can take the left most lane at the exit and go through a roundabout or take the next two lanes and go over the raised curve road and bypass the roundabout. Normally I take the raised road but yesterday it said that was 17 mins longer. I could see it was clear, so I stayed on it and when the route reset it again it went from 37 to 35 mins (again, it didn't jump to 54mins).


Has anybody else noticed this before, maybe on a regular route they take?

GBX

I would not put it down to them lying. It obviously bases the route around distance and add in traffic build up which is based on drivers with their phones sending info back to google servers. So if traffic moves from say the on ramp to the M50, the map data will adjust accordingly.
I've found routing adjust to my trends. So instead of offering A as the best route, its now changed to B being the one recommended first.

lyin' google bashterds

basill

The algorithms are constantly being tweaked and like everything Google don't expect it to be fully transparent. If you believe the following link then the times are a mix of historic times, current speeds and are influenced by the type of roads, speed limits, temp speed limits, roadworks etc. They seem to get more actual data from android users than Apple so that will influence the accuracy as well. So in other words loads of things.

https://www.quora.com/How-does-Google-Maps-calculate-traffic-and-ETA-and-on-what-parameters-does-Google-give-the-colours-to-traffic-conditions

Mark Hamill

GBX wrote: »

I would not put it down to them lying. It obviously bases the route around distance and add in traffic build up which is based on drivers with their phones sending info back to google servers. So if traffic moves from say the on ramp to the M50, the map data will adjust accordingly.

A 15 minute delay over a few 100 metres doesn't just disappear. I select my destination in my car, drive for 20 seconds to the first turn. It says right is 56 mins, left is ~72mins. Note that right and left converge in about half a km and the rest of the 60km journey is exactly the same route.

GBX wrote: »

I've found routing adjust to my trends. So instead of offering A as the best route, its now changed to B being the one recommended first.

I've found the opposite, it keeps trying to get me to take diversions on my route to work in the morning, take slip roads off the M3/N3 and rejoin a km or two down the road to supposedly save 2-3mins. But anytime I've tried those diversions, it's always taken longer.


It feels as if google is trying to get me to map out these other routes so they can update their traffic info on them, but to get me to take them they make big lies about delays on my normal route.

Mark Hamill

basill wrote: »

They seem to get more actual data from android users than Apple so that will influence the accuracy as well.

I know they get data from users, but it feels like they are making up delays to encourage me to take other routes so they can get that data.

micawber

Give HereWeGo app a spin. Developed by Nokia, free, and maps are downloadable. Also tries to give real time traffic delays and find generally reliable.

Macy0161

The thing I've noticed from my commutes is that it gives real time, rather than expected. I kinda know now that although the alternative might be quicker if I was at a certain point "now", as I'm not, the pinch points will pinch by the time I get there. tbh, for my regular commutes at regular times, I use it to flag anything out of the ordinary (say a crash on the motorway, so red where I wouldn't expect it) rather than it altering my daily commute based upon the fastest route.

GBX

The 15 min drop is unusual and not something I've noticed in the past myself.
If the right and left route converge in a short space, surely the route you take can't be too important especially if its joining the M50 ?

They are always using data supplied by users but I wouldn't go as far as them trying to get you to take a route to provide this. That's my opinion anyway.

McMurphy

**checks OPs username**

I don't think Google had X-Wings in mind when they calculated the times.


May the force be with you OP.