Need a Sat Nav which re routes around traffic...

Joebob

Joebob

Joebob

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Joined
27 Sep 2005
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Location
Burbage, Hinckley
Just started working in a new location which is a 100 mile round trip daily and takes me along possibly the worst part of the M6 (J2 to J10A).

I have only been here for a couple of weeks and have already been stuck in traffic twice on the way home (2 hours a time). I looked at BBC traffic website before leaving yesterday which informed me of severe delays again!, so I took the M6 toll, which was great but I would rather avoid £11 a day if I can! I heard on the radio again this morning that the M6 was ultra busy so I decided to try the A5 and it took me bloody two hours again!!!

The journey is usually an hour with no delays and slightly heavy traffic.

Anyway, I am starting to think my best option is a really good Sat Nav which will automatically re-route around traffic problems. Having done a quick check on-line I notice that Garmin and TomTom do models which update traffic info via your smartphone, but I'm after one which auto-routes if possible.

Any advice or recommendations really appreciated.

Thanks
 
Joebob said:
Just started working in a new location which is a 100 mile round trip daily and takes me along possibly the worst part of the M6 (J2 to J10A).

I have only been here for a couple of weeks and have already been stuck in traffic twice on the way home (2 hours a time). I looked at BBC traffic website before leaving yesterday which informed me of severe delays again!, so I took the M6 toll, which was great but I would rather avoid £11 a day if I can! I heard on the radio again this morning that the M6 was ultra busy so I decided to try the A5 and it took me bloody two hours again!!!

The journey is usually an hour with no delays and slightly heavy traffic.

Anyway, I am starting to think my best option is a really good Sat Nav which will automatically re-route around traffic problems. Having done a quick check on-line I notice that Garmin and TomTom do models which update traffic info via your smartphone, but I'm after one which auto-routes if possible.

Any advice or recommendations really appreciated.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Tom tom re-route is ****!

Last time I used it, all it did was try to get me back onto the same road I was trying to avoid.
 
The mobile app Waze is by far the best for traffic avoidance. I've had top of the range Garmins and Tomtoms before, Waze is all I use now.
 
Would you consider a standalone sat nav? I've always used tomtom and their top of the range model comes complete with lifetime traffic and camera updates
 
The problem here is if it's that bad then everyone else with a Satnav will be end up going the same way as you, what you really want to do is spend a bit of time looking at your own alternative routes so there's less chance of ending up in a snarl up on some little country road or similar.

You may also just have to accept that doing that sort of commute on those roads is never going to be nice, my housemate spends plenty of time on the M6 around the midlands and even though he knows the place well it can still take him hours to get from the M5 to J10a.
 
swain90 said:
Google Maps on your phone?

That usually reroutes if it can find a faster way.
Click to expand...

WYNIR0 said:
waze on your phone.
Click to expand...

I would rather avoid using my phone if possible. I have been using Google maps and I don't find it the best to follow. Plus if I have to answer a call it's a pain as I lose the Nav screen and the only way to get it back is by touching the phone screen, which is illegal whilst driving!

kindai said:
Tom tom re-route is ****!

Last time I used it, all it did was try to get me back onto the same road I was trying to avoid.
Click to expand...

Yes, i have experience this but my TomTom is over ten years old so i thought they would have improved by now!

geekman said:
The mobile app Waze is by far the best for traffic avoidance. I've had top of the range Garmins and Tomtoms before, Waze is all I use now.
Click to expand...

Does Waze auto re-route?

Squidger said:
Would you consider a standalone sat nav? I've always used tomtom and their top of the range model comes complete with lifetime traffic and camera updates
Click to expand...

I would prefer a standalone for reasons stated above.

Uther said:
Doesn't waze use data though?
Click to expand...

I don't mind using DATA, I have 5GB allowance with GiffGaff which I can easily increase if needed.
 
Joebob said:
I would rather avoid using my phone if possible. I have been using Google maps and I don't find it the best to follow. Plus if I have to answer a call it's a pain as I lose the Nav screen and the only way to get it back is by touching the phone screen, which is illegal whilst driving!
Click to expand...

A phone holder should help with that.

Google Maps is good for checking of their are delays on your route, it shows which segments of the motorway are busy. If you know the are you can get off at a junction, use the local roads and join the motorway further down. I had a 150 mile round commute last year and Google Maps was very accurate and saved me lots of time.

What works best though for a relaxed commute is accept you are going to be sat in traffic and download lots of podcasts. If you're listening to something interesting you don't feel like you just wasted hours staring at the car in front.
 
No ****-Nav required

A444 through Burton to A50 - Stoke - A500

Assuming you want to go that far north ?

Fully star swearwords!
 
I've got a TomTom Go 6000 which deals with traffic and as someone who drives a lot all over the UK and occasionally Europe (30k+ miles a year) I feel I've put it to a pretty good test. The traffic updates and auto route redirection have never let me down and I find it works really well.

I've not really used Google Maps or Waze to any real extent either, but they have worked for me in the past. I just personally prefer having a dedicated nav to using my phone.
 
Mujja said:
A phone holder should help with that.
Click to expand...

I'm looking at universal phone holders now. I have a 6 inch phone in a wallet style case. I need a holder which will hold phone and all though as I can't be arsed taking out everytime I travel.

I already subscribe to audible and get podcasts, which are an absolute lifesaver when stuck in traffic. I have a 5 yr old son and a 2 month old daughter who are my main reasons for wanting to be home as soon as possible.

Outcast said:
No ****-Nav required

A444 through Burton to A50 - Stoke - A500

Assuming you want to go that far north ?
Click to expand...

How is that any better, I have just checked and it's a 2 hour trip assuming I don't hit traffic?!?!?!
 
Phemo said:
I've got a TomTom Go 6000 which deals with traffic and as someone who drives a lot all over the UK and occasionally Europe (30k+ miles a year) I feel I've put it to a pretty good test. The traffic updates and auto route redirection have never let me down and I find it works really well.

I've not really used Google Maps or Waze to any real extent either, but they have worked for me in the past. I just personally prefer having a dedicated nav to using my phone.
Click to expand...

Just checked it out and the latest model 6100 is almost £300 which seems pricey these days for a Sat Nav.

I've downloaded and setup Waze and I have to say it looks really good.
 
Outcast said:
No ****-Nav required

A444 through Burton to A50 - Stoke - A500

Assuming you want to go that far north ?
Click to expand...

The A444 can be crap at times and the A50 / A500 through Stoke at peak times is on par with the M6! I live near Stoke and avoid both roads like the plague unless I'm in the truck - paid by the hour! :D
 
I've used waze on my android headunit and it's alright but I prefer tomtom :o mainly for LOUD speed camera alerts etc.. it's not as good at rerouting as waze is but I found that it simply reroutes me to a traffic jam created by uber drivers ha ;)

and then you sit in a jam full of priuse'es.
 
grudas said:
I've used waze on my android headunit and it's alright but I prefer tomtom :o mainly for LOUD speed camera alerts etc.. it's not as good at rerouting as waze is but I found that it simply reroutes me to a traffic jam created by uber drivers ha ;)

and then you sit in a jam full of priuse'es.
Click to expand...

The speed camera alert volume is my only criticism of Waze - it makes me wish my car had bluetooth audio streaming as that would make it a non issue.

You get used to keeping a watchful eye on the screen though: one of the reasons I use it is because the police alert system with the little icon on the road saved me from a 90 in a 50 ticket :o

You don't get that with a tomtom!
 
Joebob said:
I'm looking at universal phone holders now. I have a 6 inch phone in a wallet style case. I need a holder which will hold phone and all though as I can't be arsed taking out everytime I travel.
Click to expand...

I have a Brodit dash mount with a Brodit adjustable holder. I think I bought the holder back when I had a Samsung Note II, possibly earlier.

The holder has worked with every phone I've owned since then including a Nexus 6, currently a Z5 with TPU case.
 
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