TravelLink Traffic

[neod192]

So the other day there was a traffic jam on the highway and an icon showed up on the map. For some reason it wasn't showing up when I checked the traffic on my route or traffic nearby - only on the map. I could click the icon on the map to get details (saw it was listed as congestion), but the Nav didn't change the route to avoid it - yes, I have that option selected in the settings.

 

I also saw a tiny yellow line next to my green route line - I'm assuming that was telling me traffic was backed up?

 

Is the TravelLink Traffic supposed to show traffic jams on the Traffic window or just the map?

 

Why isn't the traffic line more obvious and why isn't it re-routing me ... ? Maybe the back-up wasn't bad enough to save time by taking a non-highway route?

Edited April 25, 2013 by neod192

[jeff_h]

Not sure if this is what you're asking, but what the heck.

 

I took a pic of my screen a couple weeks ago, actually was to note that it was April 9th and was 91 degrees. The yellow section on the northern part of the map showed some slow traffic (normal), and then on the bottom left shows some traffic backup. I have often gotten a warning about traffic incidents ahead and given the choice to view/avoid/ignore, but don't think (don't remember) if those are offered on incidents only, or congestion as well. I should have taken a pic from last Friday of the DC area, so much red it looked like a ruptured heart valve or something....

 

 

[neod192]

That's it! I only saw it once on my map and it didn't give me any options to avoid it (other than me clicking on it and select Avoid). I muted my guidance, so maybe that's why it didn't talk to me?

 

On this picture, is it giving you directions or were you just looking at the map?

PS. I love the 91F temps!

[jeff_h]

That's it! I only saw it once on my map and it didn't give me any options to avoid it (other than me clicking on it and select Avoid). I muted my guidance, so maybe that's why it didn't talk to me?

 

That's normal coloring on the map to show conditions (today's is below), and the symbol for the traffic backups.... I did not have navigation set, just had the map displayed to show current conditions as I normally do.

 

I think the feed is from the same source as the one that feeds a popular news radio station in DC, and their traffic link is below.

 

http://www.wtop.com/?sid=&nid=871

 

ps - I don't love the 91 degrees, today's 67 was just right, I mentioned yesterday's strong headwinds and 45.0 MPG on the way home, same trip today 54.9 MPG and was enough to inch the lifetime MPG up to 47.7 (though it's about 1.5 MPG optimistic from the Fuelly actual).

Edited April 25, 2013 by jeff_h

[jeff_h]

Here is another interesting thing I found this morning... brought up the incident that was indicated on the map to see details, it noted that it was involving a "Heavy Lorry"... I used to drive one of those years ago, but don't normally see that term used in the USA.

 

[RedLdr1]

The "real time" data, actually it is near real time data, used for most of the "real time" traffic incidents comes from multiple sources but the local "511" Travelers Information provides most of it to which ever data aggregator that XM/Sirius utilizes. That is why you have a "heavy lorry" in Virginia and we have a "semi truck" or "tractor trailer" in Georgia.... ;) :) That is also why the displayed data can lag behind true "real time" and what your local 511 and news is reporting....

[neod192]

Hmm, I also noticed that Sirius only has traffic data for the major interstates (I- and US roads), as soon as I get off there's no traffic info - especially in the city. I really like Google Maps much better .... but it's not integrated. Too bad we can't have both.

[jeff_h]

Hmm, I also noticed that Sirius only has traffic data for the major interstates (I- and US roads), as soon as I get off there's no traffic info - especially in the city. I really like Google Maps much better .... but it's not integrated. Too bad we can't have both.

 

Not necessarily... I see traffic conditions on VA Rt 7 in Northern VA as it's one of the roads I take and look at the status to see if I should take it for free, or suck it up and pay the $2.75 toll to avoid it. So some of the local roads are color-coded, but I don't know what the criteria are for having a given road being reported or not.

[jeff_h]

I figured that Friday afternoon would be a good time to show a nice colorful map... and this is 6:42pm when the worst traffic should be done, one might think...

[fusionTX]

Hmm, I also noticed that Sirius only has traffic data for the major interstates (I- and US roads), as soon as I get off there's no traffic info - especially in the city. I really like Google Maps much better .... but it's not integrated. Too bad we can't have both.

Tesla uses Google Maps. Very nice!

[acdii]

I got my renewal notice the other day. Didn't realize that there is a fee for Travel link AND traffic! Cancelling all of them this week. I may see if I can get just travel link when the subscription runs out on the new one, since I never use the traffic, doesnt have any bearing on where I live anyways. I do like the travel link though for weather, shows and fuel prices. I always have my iphone for those if it comes down to it.

 

 

I also noticed that my Flex does not show the BP station I frequent in travel link, but does in my Fusion, and did in the 13 too.