Australian Politics Forum - Google sending you on toll roads

freediver

Gold Member

Offline

www.ozpolitic.com

Posts: 52442
At my desk.

Google sending you on toll roads
Yesterday 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.

Back to top

People who can't distinguish between etymology and entomology bug me in ways I cannot put into words.

IP Logged

Carl D

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 10649
Rivervale, Perth
Gender: male

Re: Google sending you on toll roads
Reply #1 - Yesterday at 4:05pm

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.

Back to top

** Repeat Covid infections exercise our immune system in the same way that repeat concussions exercise our brain **

IP Logged

Gordon

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 21687
Gordon
Gender: male

Re: Google sending you on toll roads
Reply #2 - Yesterday at 4:43pm

freediver wrote Yesterday 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 Grin

Back to top

IBI

IP Logged

greggerypeccary

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 150278
Gender: male

Re: Google sending you on toll roads
Reply #3 - Yesterday at 4:48pm

Gordon wrote Yesterday at 4:43pm:

freediver wrote Yesterday 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 Grin

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

Back to top

GOP = Guardians Of Paedophiles

IP Logged

Jasin Gold Member Offline Posts: 55260 Gender:	Re: Google sending you on toll roads Reply #4 - Yesterday at 5:19pm I'm glad I don't live in Cities with a need to satellite 🛰️ my way around.
Back to top	AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY. IP Logged

tallowood Gold Member Offline Израиль Навсегда Posts: 6930 Gender:	Re: Google sending you on toll roads Reply #5 - Yesterday at 6:50pm Jasin wrote Yesterday at 5:19pm: I'm glad I don't live in Cities with a need to satellite 🛰️ my way around. Yes.
Back to top	עַם יִשְרָאֵל חַי IP Logged

freediver Gold Member Offline www.ozpolitic.com Posts: 52442 At my desk.	Re: Google sending you on toll roads Reply #6 - Yesterday at 7:00pm 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.
Back to top	People who can't distinguish between etymology and entomology bug me in ways I cannot put into words. IP Logged

tallowood Gold Member Offline Израиль Навсегда Posts: 6930 Gender:	Re: Google sending you on toll roads Reply #7 - Yesterday at 7:09pm When in bush drone can be of great help.
Back to top	עַם יִשְרָאֵל חַי IP Logged

chimera Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 14724 Armidale Gender:	Re: Google sending you on toll roads Reply #8 - Yesterday at 7:14pm North is easy to find using a wrist watch with hands. Or wait until sundown and walk by the moon.
Back to top	IP Logged

Sprintcyclist Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 41274 Gender:	Re: Google sending you on toll roads Reply #9 - Yesterday at 9:02pm I turn the toll roads option off
Back to top	Modern Classic Right Wing IP Logged

Jasin Gold Member Offline Posts: 55260 Gender:	Re: Google sending you on toll roads Reply #10 - Yesterday at 9:12pm Sprintcyclist wrote Yesterday at 9:02pm: I turn the toll roads option off Oh c'mon. You ride a bicycle.
Back to top	AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY. IP Logged

Carl D

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 10649
Rivervale, Perth
Gender: male

Re: Google sending you on toll roads
Reply #11 - Yesterday at 9:28pm

chimera wrote Yesterday 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". Cheesy

Back to top

** Repeat Covid infections exercise our immune system in the same way that repeat concussions exercise our brain **

IP Logged