Reply to: Google maps - driving times - how accurate do you find it?

[chef]

are you referring to google on your laptop, on your phones browser? or the app? that notifies you of your commute time?

EDIT: found it, 'google now' does it

Google Now pinpoints information such as traffic conditions and sports updates based on a users’ past behavior with the device. Sports nuts who have a history of checking for updates from their favorite teams every morning may find that their phone now automatically opens a link to the relevant information at that time of day.

Google Now can also link with travel. Searching for a specific flight will add a card listing departure times and gate numbers to the travel section of your Google Now page.

If you take a particular flight often, then schedules may be automatically updated to what Google calls your “card,’ or a notification that’s an automated blurb, giving you the lowdown.

When you have a flight, Google Now checks traffic so you can know how long it’ll take to get to the airport. It also updates flight delays and traffic conditions to the airport for flights you’ve recently searched for.
Read more at http://www.tnooz.com/2012/08/14/news...FpGmErZIh62.99

[VectraMan]

Google has 'learnt' my commute and gives me a little update just before I leave telling me how long each journey is going to take considering current traffic conditions, I didn't even ask.

It is very good, though I notice in the morning whilst at work it's still telling me "37 minutes to work". It also alerts me every time the A34 turns into a car park.

I think Google use 60mph average for motorways. I probably average 80mph on motorway journeys, and as a rule of thumb I work off 3/4 of the journey time Google says, and that's mostly turns out to be right.

[Naaarwich]

Going back to the original question, I do find the Google Maps time to be very accurate on time estimate. My Lexus is always way too optimistic even though its supposed to have a live traffic feed.

Very occassionally I do find that some of the routing is odd. From Gants Hill if you take the A12 eastwards, the first right turn is Ley Road. Google maps tells me to take the exit after this, u-turn back and thenturn left.
Both Tomtom and my car satnav get this right. Similar routing issues have happed elsewhere but not enough to stop it from being a great product.
I still dont understand how the Google satnav can get any of the routes wrong because there are only two mapping companies that provide all the maps to the satnav companies (Tomtom now owns one of the mapping companies). I can only think that Tomtom and amy car satnav use one map and Google get theirs from another.

[Old Hack]

Any BIK payable on that?

Not unless you use it personally. We took it to our holiday home this year, then used it to cruise spain and sw france for 3 weeks and 'paid' the company €2100 for it's use (the current rate). As long as you do this, then there's no BIK as it's a mobile office, and accomodation. I spoke to the corp tax office, and as long as you can present a case that having it saves money, and therefore presents more profits, then it's a legitimate business purchase. If it's seen as frivolous, then you are going to be in trouble. However, we can, ligitimately, present savings, substantial savings in the form of no hotel costs.

Staying in car parks and the like is called Wild camping and is, strictly speaking, illegal (but curiously not in Scotland and Wales). However, if you're savvy, not messy, and quiet, you can stop anywhere really. I generally pop down country lanes and drive until I see a layby and stop there. Never been troubled aside from an occassional funny guy driving past at 3am and blowing his horn.

Huge savings to be made, and if you arrange your weekends/half terms as a business trip, to Devon, or the lake district, or West Wales, or.....

[vetran]

Google has 'learnt' my commute and gives me a little update just before I leave telling me how long each journey is going to take considering current traffic conditions, I didn't even ask.

its become self aware - if you see anyone looking like Arnie or Summer Glau - then RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[darmstadt]

I quite often see self-employed people here stopped up in their motorhomes althought they tend to be ladies who charge by the hour as well...

[SimonMac]

What are the rules though on just parking up a motorhome for the night, I assume you can't just do it on any bit of land you find

[Troll]

It cost £48k and they devalue about 10% a year unlike cars. It saves the business up to £16k a year and has already had 33k wiped off corp tax on it's value, and in 4 years, after keeping it for 5 years, I believe it will still be worth around £30k, so all in all, it will net a large, very large saving. I guess it's a long term aquisition.

Oh, and although it cost me £48k, it only cost around £38,500 after the I go the VAT back. But I will have to charge VAT on the sale, although I can sell it to myself in a few years on the cheap...

Champion purchase really. Was in it last night, and although I had to turn the heating up, was lovely, quiet, and comfortable

Any BIK payable on that?

[EternalOptimist]

It cost £48k and they devalue about 10% a year unlike cars. It saves the business up to £16k a year and has already had 33k wiped off corp tax on it's value, and in 4 years, after keeping it for 5 years, I believe it will still be worth around £30k, so all in all, it will net a large, very large saving. I guess it's a long term aquisition.

Oh, and although it cost me £48k, it only cost around £38,500 after the I go the VAT back. But I will have to charge VAT on the sale, although I can sell it to myself in a few years on the cheap...

Champion purchase really. Was in it last night, and although I had to turn the heating up, was lovely, quiet, and comfortable

my current gig is in a leafy suberb, with a community centre that has a large empty car park.

quite often there is a motor home parked up there when I arrive at about 7, curtains drawn, all quiet.maybe once a month.

definately someone with your type of approach

[Old Hack]

Sounds like a good idea with the motorhome. Not cheap mind are they?

I hired one last summer to go to a music fest and that cost me £700 for a weeks hire...

It cost £48k and they devalue about 10% a year unlike cars. It saves the business up to £16k a year and has already had 33k wiped off corp tax on it's value, and in 4 years, after keeping it for 5 years, I believe it will still be worth around £30k, so all in all, it will net a large, very large saving. I guess it's a long term aquisition.

Oh, and although it cost me £48k, it only cost around £38,500 after the I go the VAT back. But I will have to charge VAT on the sale, although I can sell it to myself in a few years on the cheap...

Champion purchase really. Was in it last night, and although I had to turn the heating up, was lovely, quiet, and comfortable

[SimonMac]

100 miles is just on the border of me staying over/driving. When I did it I drove Monday morning, stayed over Monday Night, Drove home Tuesday, Drove Wednesday stayed Wednesday night, drove home Thursday and Fri WFH

[gingerjedi]

Google has 'learnt' my commute and gives me a little update just before I leave telling me how long each journey is going to take considering current traffic conditions, I didn't even ask.

[psychocandy]

I would go in and out of Newport and the main traffic was coming out of Newport in the morning, and going back to newport in the evening. I'd actually say their 2 hours was extremely optimistic, for you could take 45 mins alone from Severn bridge to newport. Factor traffic around the M5/M4 to M32 in the morning and evening, and Swindon, and I couldn't see that taking only that amount of time.

I used to do Wedmore to Newport in 60 - 75 mins, and that was at 6am there - 3.30pm back and didn't involve the queues in and out of Newport (opposite direction) and the M5/M4 - M32 issues.

I think it's extremely optimistic.

Motorhome has saved me £15k this reporting year. £25k was dropped off Corp tax for AIA purposes, and devalued 9k too. No brainer really. Also helps for IR35 purposes, as it's a mobile office....

Sounds like a good idea with the motorhome. Not cheap mind are they?

I hired one last summer to go to a music fest and that cost me £700 for a weeks hire...

[Old Hack]

On a clear run that's a good 80-90 mins on M4 and A420/A34 or M5and A40 if not driving like a nutter. Add on the town driving both ends and google could be pretty close.

I disagree here. 60 miles used to take me 60-75 mins going against the traffic on the M-Way at stupid O'Clock. That's saying 2:15. I can't see it personally as you are going with the traffic across the bridge and the traffic isn't good.

[Scoi]

Say Severn Bridge to Oxford. Motorhome - now theres an idea.....

On a clear run that's a good 80-90 mins on M4 and A420/A34 or M5and A40 if not driving like a nutter. Add on the town driving both ends and google could be pretty close.