I don't know how Google Maps works (I quit paying attention when they stopped letting me fix the maps directly), but I know a thing or two about Waze. With eno

I don't know how Google Maps works (I quit paying attention when they stopped letting me fix the maps directly), but I know a thing or two about Waze. With enough use, Waze learns the actual speeds at which people drive through a given road segment. It even learns that people may drive a segment at different speeds based on time of day. It then uses this speed data as part of its routing. The emphasis above is very intentional, for two reasons: 1. No data is no data. If there isn't enough use on a given road segment, then it doesn't have any meaningful speed data with which to work. This is particularly problematic in rural areas that are seldom-traveled, and where the locals already know how to get where they're going so they seldom (if ever) use Waze (and thus generate little or zero real-world speed data for Waze to work with). 2. We may have our preferences towards "fastest" or "shortest" routing, but the actual-routing is not that straight forward. Depending on the area, there may or may not be different road types defined by map editors (things like "Primary Street" or "Minor Highway"). The routing tends to guide people onto more-major roads when they make sense for a given route. 2.1. But again, no data is no data. In areas where these definitions have not been put into place, it doesn't have the data to allow it to prefer routing down a nice, wide, straight-ish road instead of a narrow and twisty road. --- Now, there are some solutions to these things: 1. Drive the crazy route. Drive it sanely, but drive it with Waze running (it does not have to be providing directions). This generates data, and that data can eventually help those who come after you. (Many people have serious issues with partaking in this kind of effort, but this is the mechanism by which the database gets populated with speed data regardless of one's views.) 2. Edit the map. Follow the national and regional guidelines, make good edits, and fix that shit. (Many people have serious issues partaking in this kind of effort as well, but this is the mechanism by which road types are defined regardless of one's views.)