Waze has sent me down one too many tiny roads

[kenseaton]

I'm just going to price a new tyre, possibly two, tomorrow after Waze sent me down a side road.
It hadn't felt right and I'd just glanced at the console map to make sure it was correct when the road narrowed to one lane and I hit a pavement kerb.
Result - one dented wheel (fortunately steel) and damaged sidewall.
This isn't the first time Waze has done something idiotic. Once it was "just" a 35km single-track road used by logging lorries and another time it took me on a long loop off and, miles later, back on to the A51 autoroute.
There have been discussions on this in the past but... has anyone found anything equivalent or better?
I've a 2024 T6.1 Coast so cheaper is better.
Thanks

 

[Sad]

I think you have to consider Google maps for its ubiquity, I believe it also has the similar 'community' reporting of accidents/incidents now.
Over the past year, we've gone to the TomTom app which comes through the Android auto also. It's not perfect, the amount of features you can access in Android auto is much reduced, you have you got into the app on the phone if you want to use some of the features. However, I find it the most reliable for avoiding traffic and sensibly rerouting (I also just don't use those feature I have to go into the phone to use). I grew tired of Google just allowing me to barrel into the back of a traffic jam and find TomTom much more sensible.
There're other pros and cons between these two, but if cost is the main factor, I think you're best having a go with Google maps

 

[vmaxkiddy]

I'm just going to price a new tyre, possibly two, tomorrow after Waze sent me down a side road.
It hadn't felt right and I'd just glanced at the console map to make sure it was correct when the road narrowed to one lane and I hit a pavement kerb.
Result - one dented wheel (fortunately steel) and damaged sidewall.
This isn't the first time Waze has done something idiotic. Once it was "just" a 35km single-track road used by logging lorries and another time it took me on a long loop off and, miles later, back on to the A51 autoroute.
There have been discussions on this in the past but... has anyone found anything equivalent or better?
I've a 2024 T6.1 Coast so cheaper is better.
Thanks

Sounds like you may have it set to navigate via the shortest route rather than the quickest.

 

[sidepod]

So satnav is to blame for you hitting the kerb?

 

[Meoncoast]

Our sat Nat shows shortest route through the flooded Ford at Brockenhurst at the moment. I see the sat Nav as an aid rather than "she who must be obade".

 

[Kev56]

I’ve had many ‘where the hell are we going to now’ on sat nav directions. I’ve just looked up and found this, anyone tried.

Navigation Apps That Avoid Narrow Lanes​

Several navigation apps can help you avoid narrow lanes, making your driving experience safer and more comfortable.

1. Waze​

• Features: Waze provides multiple route options, allowing users to select routes that avoid narrow lanes. It uses real-time data from other drivers to suggest the best paths.
• Customization: Users can set preferences to avoid certain types of roads, including narrow or unpaved ones.

2. HERE WeGo​

• Features: HERE WeGo is designed to help users find optimal routes while considering various factors, including road types. It offers offline navigation, which is useful in areas with poor connectivity.
• Route Planning: The app allows for multi-stop journeys and can help avoid narrow roads by suggesting alternative routes.

3. MapFactor Navigator​

• Features: This app offers offline maps and voice navigation. Users can choose routes based on preferences, including avoiding narrow lanes.
• User Experience: It is known for its user-friendly interface and clear map displays, making it easier to navigate.

4. Magic Earth​

• Features: Magic Earth provides options to avoid specific road types, including narrow lanes. It also offers offline maps and real-time traffic updates.
• Privacy: The app emphasizes user privacy and does not track personal data.

These apps can enhance your driving experience by helping you avoid narrow and potentially hazardous roads.
Google Apple

Explore More​

What are the best navigation apps for avoiding narrow lanes?

How does Waze compare to Google Maps in avoiding narrow roads?

What features do navigation apps offer for larger vehicles to avoid unsuitable paths?

 

[dspuk]

Waze is owned by Google Maps, they bought it quite some time ago so the back end and the maths for both are more or less identical, just a different front end.

Waze is the “original” algorithm based map service that also used real time data from the drivers running it. It just classifies roads and knows who has been down them before and the average speeds between junctions to work out a route for you - be that fastest or otherwise. It also uses the live data from drivers with it open to know if a road is slow or blocked.

It does not know what you’re driving, that deliberation is down to you when you go down that road.

It’s in all our gifts to stop and turn around.

We tend to look at the three routes it offers and choose the best one based on our knowledge, especially in the UK.

One thing about Waze, from our many many years of using it, is it’s normally right. Multiple times I have "known better" and ended up in a traffic jam. Damn you Waze.

 

[Jude]

I'm just going to price a new tyre, possibly two, tomorrow after Waze sent me down a side road.
It hadn't felt right and I'd just glanced at the console map to make sure it was correct when the road narrowed to one lane and I hit a pavement kerb.
Result - one dented wheel (fortunately steel) and damaged sidewall.
This isn't the first time Waze has done something idiotic. Once it was "just" a 35km single-track road used by logging lorries and another time it took me on a long loop off and, miles later, back on to the A51 autoroute.
There have been discussions on this in the past but... has anyone found anything equivalent or better?
I've a 2024 T6.1 Coast so cheaper is better.
Thanks

No. I have had many horrendous directions - through arab markets, tiny villages, farm roads during harvest - places I had no right to be. I blame Google maps. They surely have a duty of care to those villagers and to the drivers not to send them off-piste.

 

[chockswahay]

I see all forms of Sat Nav at a tool to aid me, not a command to follow

 

[CALIFORNIA-VW53DUB]

Most Apps are as good/bad as one another. Sometimes it is just best to have TWO separate systems running to check, especially in unknown locations. Waze is very good and informative for traffic/Police checks/potholes/vehicles on the side of the road, but does for some reason NOT show road closures.
Often find that using Google satellite view or Street view as well, helps you avoid these narrow lanes and you can find an alternative route.
The days of people using OS maps seems to have gone by the by, when WHITE and YELLOW roads were the ones to avoid.
Sometimes it is best to do some prior planning, as opposed to just merrily and blindly following a Sat Nav................they are NOT perfect.

 

[GollyOlly]

I use the VW Sat Nav that I've nicknamed Adolf! It is diabolical and believe it is our buddy from the 1940s reincarnated to take revenge on the unsuspecting English! As a back-up, I use the left seat navigator, though she often steers me in the wrong direction too. Inevitably, in both cases the mistake was down to the driver....of course. I haven't found a great navigational aid either.

 

[dspuk]

I use the VW Sat Nav that I've nicknamed Adolf! It is diabolical and believe it is our buddy from the 1940s reincarnated to take revenge on the unsuspecting English! As a back-up, I use the left seat navigator, though she often steers me in the wrong direction too. Inevitably, in both cases the mistake was down to the driver....of course. I haven't found a great navigational aid either.

I can honestly say in nigh on 4 years I've never stayed on the VW system menu for longer than 60 seconds let alone used the factory satnav.

 

[chockswahay]

Googlemaps, Waze, Tomtom.......whatever........ and a good old fashioned map! That's the way to do it

 

[stoobthealien]

I can honestly say in night on 4 years I've never sayed on the VW system menu for longer than 60 seconds let alone used the factory satnav.

They don't even include it on the new Beach or I think Coast

 

[stoobthealien]

I might be missing something but I thought the point of having a Cali (rather than a larger van) was that it could tackle the same roads as a car?

 

[GollyOlly]

I might be missing something but I thought the point of having a Cali (rather than a larger van) was that it could tackle the same roads as a car?

True, but not necessarily a tank!

 

[Skiver]

I think you have to consider Google maps for its ubiquity, I believe it also has the similar 'community' reporting of accidents/incidents now.
Over the past year, we've gone to the TomTom app which comes through the Android auto also. It's not perfect, the amount of features you can access in Android auto is much reduced, you have you got into the app on the phone if you want to use some of the features. However, I find it the most reliable for avoiding traffic and sensibly rerouting (I also just don't use those feature I have to go into the phone to use). I grew tired of Google just allowing me to barrel into the back of a traffic jam and find TomTom much more sensible.
There're other pros and cons between these two, but if cost is the main factor, I think you're best having a go with Google maps

Google is Abs

I'm just going to price a new tyre, possibly two, tomorrow after Waze sent me down a side road.
It hadn't felt right and I'd just glanced at the console map to make sure it was correct when the road narrowed to one lane and I hit a pavement kerb.
Result - one dented wheel (fortunately steel) and damaged sidewall.
This isn't the first time Waze has done something idiotic. Once it was "just" a 35km single-track road used by logging lorries and another time it took me on a long loop off and, miles later, back on to the A51 autoroute.
There have been discussions on this in the past but... has anyone found anything equivalent or better?
I've a 2024 T6.1 Coast so cheaper is better.
Thanks

I have the same problem with Google. Essentially the algorithm used to calculate your route picks what it thinks is the quickest and it will send you down awful roads because of 1 or 2 mins difference when really it should have kept you on the main road. Google own Waze, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the underlying sat nav tech is the same and that Waze user reports are shared between platforms.

They were both developed in the US and I think road travel there is a lot more straight lines so less likely to happen

I still use Google as its arrival time accuracy is good, but driving completely unknown routes in France or Spain I can’t 100 trust Google as it will send me down roads I don’t want to be driving on in my van if I’m not careful and be aware of the wider route not just the next turn.

 

[stoobthealien]

Google is Abs

I have the same problem with Google. Essentially the algorithm used to calculate your route picks what it thinks is the quickest and it will send you down awful roads because of 1 or 2 mins difference when really it should have kept you on the main road. Google own Waze, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the underlying sat nav tech is the same and that Waze user reports are shared between platforms.

They were both developed in the US and I think road travel there is a lot more straight lines so less likely to happen

I still use Google as its arrival time accuracy is good, but driving completely unknown routes in France or Spain I can’t 100 trust Google as it will send me down roads I don’t want to be driving on in my van if I’m not careful and be aware of the wider route not just the next turn.

I think the other "trick" with Google Maps I often use when on backroads is to look at the "2 minutes slower" etc options it offers when you get to turnoffs - had it yesterday where I was on a nice wide b road with a lane going each way and it was trying to turn me down a single lane road but it showed "1 minute slower" staying on the b road so I made the obvious choice!

 

[WelshGas]

Never had a problem in 10 yrs with my California and RNS510 using the built in VW Satnav. All over Europe , Scandinavia and U.K.
The system in my Multivan is even better especially as you can set a destination on Google maps in the VW app and send to the vehicle .

 

[kenseaton]

Sounds like you may have it set to navigate via the shortest route rather than the quickest.

Hmm, not my usual way of working but I'll check what I've ended up with. Thanks

 

[kenseaton]

So satnav is to blame for you hitting the kerb?

Obviously not! When I joined the road indicated I glanced at the map as the road signs were showing differently. The road narrowed almost immediately, closing off my lane with a solid pavement.
My fault 100% and especially for trusting Waze directions.

 

[kenseaton]

Waze is owned by Google Maps, they bought it quite some time ago so the back end and the maths for both are more or less identical, just a different front end.

Waze is the “original” algorithm based map service that also used real time data from the drivers running it. It just classifies roads and knows who has been down them before and the average speeds between junctions to work out a route for you - be that fastest or otherwise. It also uses the live data from drivers with it open to know if a road is slow or blocked.

It does not know what you’re driving, that deliberation is down to you when you go down that road.

It’s in all our gifts to stop and turn around.

We tend to look at the three routes it offers and choose the best one based on our knowledge, especially in the UK.

One thing about Waze, from our many many years of using it, is it’s normally right. Multiple times I have "known better" and ended up in a traffic jam. Damn you Waze.

That's strange. I get the different choices of route if I'm looking on my phone but not if I'm in the van and looking at the console.
I'll have a play with the settings - but it will take a long time to trust a route again

 

[kenseaton]

I see all forms of Sat Nav at a tool to aid me, not a command to follow

Yes, 100%.. Often, on French roads, the decision has to be made "rather" quickly

 

[kenseaton]

I might be missing something but I thought the point of having a Cali (rather than a larger van) was that it could tackle the same roads as a car?

Yes, it does. I'm in France and, unlike Scotland, there are gey few passing places.
Sometimes there may be a road end but more usually it's just a bit less mountain on one side with a sheer drop on the other

 

[kenseaton]

Google is Abs

I have the same problem with Google. Essentially the algorithm used to calculate your route picks what it thinks is the quickest and it will send you down awful roads because of 1 or 2 mins difference when really it should have kept you on the main road. Google own Waze, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the underlying sat nav tech is the same and that Waze user reports are shared between platforms.

They were both developed in the US and I think road travel there is a lot more straight lines so less likely to happen

I still use Google as its arrival time accuracy is good, but driving completely unknown routes in France or Spain I can’t 100 trust Google as it will send me down roads I don’t want to be driving on in my van if I’m not careful and be aware of the wider route not just the next turn.

Yes, some very very unsuitable roads. I've been on them.
In Switzerland last year we couldn't work out why Waze gave a very long time for the trip over the Simplon pass. Turns out, it was directing us to the rail tunnel link at Brig - and the timing included the long queue.
We decided to take it as we were a wee bit low on diesel and Italian prices were much cheaper