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Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 11:53 am
by CharlieOneSix
I often use the online AA Traffic map to check for delays/road closures before setting out in the car. I'm intrigued by the information provided for minor rural roads where there are no roadside traffic monitoring cameras. Where does the info come from? I can only think that our in-car satnavs are somehow putting out information unbeknown to the driver.

If that is so, what is to stop them including the car's VIN in that info. Big brother anyone?

AA Traffic info on minor roads not far from here just now....
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aa1.JPG

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 12:00 pm
by G-CPTN
Could be published information about roadworks/resurfacing.

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 12:55 pm
by 4mastacker
Tracking the movement of traffic via the numbers of mobile phones passing certain points? Haven't the police used such technology when investigating crimes?

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 1:59 pm
by CharlieOneSix
G-CPTN wrote:
Tue Jul 09, 2019 12:00 pm
Could be published information about roadworks/resurfacing.
No, it’s not that - the traffic locations vary with time. I hadn’t thought about mobile phones. That’s probably the answer.

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 4:29 pm
by llondel
Your average smartphone is logging your position and no doubt Google makes use of such information.

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 5:03 pm
by Pontius Navigator
My Garmin links through my mobile phone and sends a traffic alert if I am stationary at more than 100m from traffic lights and also on slow sections of road. There are other cooperative Apps such as WAZE. I believe you can even exchange messages with Wazers.

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 11:14 pm
by G-CPTN
Pontius Navigator wrote:
Tue Jul 09, 2019 5:03 pm
I believe you can even exchange messages with Wazers.
Do you mean Wazzers?

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 4:20 am
by Slasher
Me and Apsara use Waze for all our navigational and the real time traffic congestion ahead (and depict its causes) as a matter of course. It's brilliant and also gives alternate less/least congested routes if time be the factor (which it almost always is) to get where you going to.

The app is free.

Messages can be sent between drivers but we don't use it.

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 6:39 am
by unifoxos
Waze sounds good but wouldn't work for me - I live where there's little or no mobile system over most of the roads I use. I have to use a satnav with built-in maps and an attached radio receiver for traffic updates.

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 7:08 am
by Boac
A very interesting question, C16 - Google maps have a 'traffic' option (and your 'AA' map appears to use that). How it does it I know not.

Google's interpretation of 'speeds' begs many questions like 'what is 'fast' and why are some roads completely empty of traffic info when presumably they are moving 'fast'???

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 7:25 am
by Pontius Navigator
G-CPTN wrote:
Tue Jul 09, 2019 11:14 pm
Pontius Navigator wrote:
Tue Jul 09, 2019 5:03 pm
I believe you can even exchange messages with Wazers.
Do you mean Wazzers?
As the app is WAZE I did not add an extra Z.

If course some drivers are WAZZOCKS.

PS, you could also ask the experts at Pocketworldgps.com. It was there that I learnt about snap-to-road on Satnav.

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 10:24 am
by ian16th
Just looked up this WAZE thing, and found this:
Internet connection

Waze was built assuming a data network connection would be present all, or at least most, of the time. For all aspects of Waze to operate, you must have an active data connection on your mobile device. This connection enriches Waze with real-time traffic related information and ensures an up-to-date map. Without an internet connection, you won't be able to locate or navigate a route.

If you have an intermittent connection, Waze will try to get data from the servers for traffic alerts and hazards, but may not be able to give you reliable information. Additionally, if Waze doesn't have a connection back to the Waze servers, you will not be able to post hazards. Waze does not cache reports or map issues to send later.
This raises the question of how much data is passed to/from the device? At what sort of cost?
To be continuously connected to the cellphone network can be expensive.

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:12 am
by Pontius Navigator
Ian, some users have Gb of data per month Where mobile internet is starting to supplant land line.

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 12:29 pm
by ian16th
Pontius Navigator wrote:
Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:12 am
Ian, some users have Gb of data per month Where mobile internet is starting to supplant land line.
I know, but I'm not one of them. I just have 1Gb a month of mobile data, and this comes from my landline deal!

My landline suites me best of the local options.

Fibre not even in the plan for this outpost.

Towards month end, I might download and try WAZE.

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 12:36 pm
by Pontius Navigator
1 Gb, luxury, I have 250 Mb.

Down load the App now, you don't need to enable data on the road. You can still use it offline and browse on line at home. One item is the nearest petrol station and the reported fuel price.

In my case Sainsbury is closer than ASDA but marginally more expensive. When there was a 1.2p/l differential it was worth going to ASDA (just). At 0.2p it was not worth it.

ASDA is also marginally less convenient with heavy traffic. Generally we would only go to ASDA if it was en route.

More markedly, the BP station just one mile from us is 8p/l more but less expensive than a trip to Sainsbury. The BP station the other end of Grantham is 18p/l more again. How they sell any fuel I don't know.

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 12:46 pm
by Boac
So, Waze is being told where your phone is all the time: I wonder who else is passes that information to? Obviously 'location' needs to be enabled for it to work, so there goes the option of turning that off! Big brother?

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 12:51 pm
by Pontius Navigator
BOAC, not quite. I don't have Sat Nav on my phone so my position is only determine by mast triangulation. I have data off so my position is not being transmitted, but I can still use WAZE for petrol, speed cams etc from downloaded data. Similarly my Garmin only broadcasts if I have my phone and data is enabled.

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 2:18 pm
by ian16th
The price of petrol is government controlled here in SA.

There are 2 prices, inland and coastal. The inland price is higher to pay for a pipeline from the coast to the Witwatersrand.

Re: Motoring traffic info on minor roads

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 3:34 pm
by Pontius Navigator
It was like that in Yugoslavia. Two petrol brands, one in the north, one in the south. Same with beer, one price spit and saw dust or seductive snug.