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The right thing is to have multiple modes, or appropriate warnings on routes. GPS systems already have modes to avoid/prefer tolls, highways, ferries, etc. Wh

by toss1 5y ago

The right thing is to have multiple modes, or appropriate warnings on routes. GPS systems already have modes to avoid/prefer tolls, highways, ferries, etc. Why not have an avoid/prefer difficult conditions? Or highlight certain paths as [requires 4WD+chains+off-road skill]? The drivers with the equipment and skill would likely prefer those and think of this as a good fun feature, and the tourists in a rental car would at least be properly warned. Yes, it's additional work and data. Yes, over a decade into society defaulting to active map/route guidance, it is also getting to the point that this should be table stakes, not frequent stories of near-tragedies.

ghaff 5y ago
In my experience playing with Google Maps in Death Valley was that it pretty much resisted routing you on serious 4WD "shortcuts" even where they cut off a lot of distance. The only exception I found was when you gave it an endpoint that required going on such a road. What it's not as good about in my experience is dealing with snow covered back roads. It's too quick to my way of thinking to take you on a back road when it doesn't need to--or a more difficult/longer back road route than it has to (although some of the distinctions may not be made by the underlying data). Which is probably part of the problem. The underlying data sets (such as TIGER in the US) don't really do a great job of distinguishing roads once you get past basic paved roads. And of course recent and current weather can make a big difference. Even an interstate can be difficult driving in a snowstorm. Though that's really on the driver to use their own judgement. ADDED: The article does say that "Waze has a filter that allows drivers to avoid unpaved roads." While hardly a panacea, this seems like a reasonable easy cut even though unpaved roads can be well maintained in good weather and paved roads can be challenging.

by toss1 5y ago

ghaff 5y ago

In my experience playing with Google Maps in Death Valley was that it pretty much resisted routing you on serious 4WD "shortcuts" even where they cut off a lot of distance. The only exception I found was when you gave it an endpoint that required going on such a road. What it's not as good about in my experience is dealing with snow covered back roads. It's too quick to my way of thinking to take you on a back road when it doesn't need to--or a more difficult/longer back road route than it has to (although some of the distinctions may not be made by the underlying data). Which is probably part of the problem. The underlying data sets (such as TIGER in the US) don't really do a great job of distinguishing roads once you get past basic paved roads. And of course recent and current weather can make a big difference. Even an interstate can be difficult driving in a snowstorm. Though that's really on the driver to use their own judgement. ADDED: The article does say that "Waze has a filter that allows drivers to avoid unpaved roads." While hardly a panacea, this seems like a reasonable easy cut even though unpaved roads can be well maintained in good weather and paved roads can be challenging.