I have a theory that google maps is getting paid kickbacks by toll road operators to direct people onto toll roads. Some of their tricks:

When you first check out the routes, the free route will be 10 minutes longer, but then once you start driving, it updates and the free route is only 5 minutes longer.

If you click on the free route to go that way, google maps waits until you are driving through the first intersection or merging into traffic and changes you back onto the toll road. This actually creates a safety hazard as you need to zoom out on the app while driving to see what it has done, and re-select the free route, which is a bit finicky. Often the free route disappears from the options at this point.

Today I knew which way I wanted to go so wasn't paying as much attention to maps. Google was saying the free route was 6 minutes longer. As I approached the fork in the road, I noticed maps was telling me the free route was 15 minutes longer. Then within about 30 seconds of driving on the free route, it was back to saying only 6 minutes longer. In the end it only took me 3 minutes longer than google's estimate for the toll road.

I have been told that waze is a better app.

Nothing Google does surprises me anymore.

One only needs to look at the cesspit known as YouTube with all of its fake and AI generated dross (and endless ads which I block of course) to realise that all Google (and Microsoft... and Apple... etc., etc.) is interested in is MONEY.

Having said all that, I can't resist the temptation to finish my post with (before Greg beats me to it):

WA - no toll roads, no pokies and no daylight saving.

But, personally I woudn't say no to daylight saving ("summer time") if it was offered again.  :)

freediver wrote on Feb 15^th, 2026 at 3:55pm:

I have a theory that google maps is getting paid kickbacks by toll road operators to direct people onto toll roads. Some of their tricks: When you first check out the routes, the free route will be 10 minutes longer, but then once you start driving, it updates and the free route is only 5 minutes longer. If you click on the free route to go that way, google maps waits until you are driving through the first intersection or merging into traffic and changes you back onto the toll road. This actually creates a safety hazard as you need to zoom out on the app while driving to see what it has done, and re-select the free route, which is a bit finicky. Often the free route disappears from the options at this point. Today I knew which way I wanted to go so wasn't paying as much attention to maps. Google was saying the free route was 6 minutes longer. As I approached the fork in the road, I noticed maps was telling me the free route was 15 minutes longer. Then within about 30 seconds of driving on the free route, it was back to saying only 6 minutes longer. In the end it only took me 3 minutes longer than google's estimate for the toll road. I have been told that waze is a better app.

I use both, I actually find google better to find tricky addresses, but waze is better for traffic as the community is very active about reporting stuff they see. You'll be driving along and there will be an alert for a car broken down in the left lane, and you can click to update if it's there or not.

When I see an alert for police car locations, I click it's NOT there because I don't want to help people evade police if speeding  ;D ;D ;D

Gordon wrote on Feb 15^th, 2026 at 4:43pm:

freediver wrote on Feb 15th, 2026 at 3:55pm: I have a theory that google maps is getting paid kickbacks by toll road operators to direct people onto toll roads. Some of their tricks: When you first check out the routes, the free route will be 10 minutes longer, but then once you start driving, it updates and the free route is only 5 minutes longer. If you click on the free route to go that way, google maps waits until you are driving through the first intersection or merging into traffic and changes you back onto the toll road. This actually creates a safety hazard as you need to zoom out on the app while driving to see what it has done, and re-select the free route, which is a bit finicky. Often the free route disappears from the options at this point. Today I knew which way I wanted to go so wasn't paying as much attention to maps. Google was saying the free route was 6 minutes longer. As I approached the fork in the road, I noticed maps was telling me the free route was 15 minutes longer. Then within about 30 seconds of driving on the free route, it was back to saying only 6 minutes longer. In the end it only took me 3 minutes longer than google's estimate for the toll road. I have been told that waze is a better app. I use both, I actually find google better to find tricky addresses, but waze is better for traffic as the community is very active about reporting stuff they see. You'll be driving along and there will be an alert for a car broken down in the left lane, and you can click to update if it's there or not. When I see an alert for police car locations, I click it's NOT there because I don't want to help people evade police if speeding  ;D ;D ;D

Good.

I'd do the same thing.

I've never understood why people flash their lights at other drivers to warn them about booze buses or speed traps.

Never heard of Waze - I might check it out.

And yeah, Carl beat me to it - no toll roads in WA   :)

I'm glad I don't live in Cities with a need to satellite 🛰️ my way around.

Jasin wrote on Feb 15^th, 2026 at 5:19pm:

I'm glad I don't live in Cities with a need to satellite 🛰️ my way around.

Yes.

No-one needs it Jasin. You can still get around using a refedex, or following your nose. You just might lose 15 minutes to a traffic jam.

When in bush drone can be of great help.

North is easy to find using a wrist watch with hands. Or wait until sundown and walk by the moon.

I turn the toll roads option off

Sprintcyclist wrote on Feb 15^th, 2026 at 9:02pm:

I turn the toll roads option off

Oh c'mon.
You ride a bicycle.

chimera wrote on Feb 15^th, 2026 at 7:14pm:

North is easy to find using a wrist watch with hands. Or wait until sundown and walk by the moon.

Yes, I heard about the wristwatch thing many years ago - you point the 12 o'clock position (top) on the watch toward the sun and North is (approximately) half way between the hour hand and 12 on the watch.

No good at night, obviously.

As for walking by the Moon, what happens when there's no Moon at sundown? For example, tonight (or tomorrow morning to be exact) here in Perth the Moon rises at 4:30am, about an hour and a half before sunrise.

You're not one of these "Sun goes down and the Moon comes up" every day people, are you?

I remember pointing the Moon out to someone during the day many years ago and they said "that can't be the Moon because it's daytime right now".  :D

If there's no moon it's because the moon is not there. Wait until it is present. Kangaroos can't travel in the dark and jump up and down vertically to get a contrast of shapes to estimate the obstacles.  They can't use tollways (for long).

'Comet C/2026 A1. Discovered in 2026, a member of the Kreutz sungrazing family. If it survives its incredibly close encounter with the Sun, it could become visible to the naked eye, potentially reaching a brightness comparable to Venus.

The Great Comet of 1882 C/1882 R1 was 100 times brighter than the full moon. Similarly, the Great Comet of 1965 Ikeya-Seki was the brightest of the 20th century,  allowing it to be easily seen in daylight.' This is wasteful but gave 2 months of nocturnal travel.