Mountain passes in winter

[Kimbos]

Really annoyed by the fact that TomTom is not enabled to recognise that many roads through mountain passes in the winter are closed in the winter time. Due to the fact that certain roads are systematically closed during the winter, which the TomTom did not 'know' cost us an extra additional 5hrs of journey time after a 14hr journey! And this was with the TomTom programmed to follow the most 'direct' route.

After recounting our story at the ski resort we were told that this is not an uncommon story.

Hoping that TomTom can find a way to work this into the programming - or at least provide a warning to be aware that roads at a certain altitude may be closed in the winter time.

 

[crgator]

Are these mountain passes always closed in the winter? I know there are area's along the coast that are subject to being closed due to high tides during storms, and there are signs saying such. But, since there is no set time (even assuming a storm season), it would be impossible to know that the roads are closed.

Perhaps if the passes are always closed, something could be done, and even then I'm not sure if the mapping software could do that . Otherwise, I would think you'd need the traffic on your TomTom to do what you're asking. Or your car radio.

 

[PSJ]

I would think you'd need the traffic on your TomTom to do what you're asking.

Agreed, a traffic subscription would be the answer to this problem.



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[gatorguy]

In some areas of the Pacific Northwest, there are roads that are seasonally closed, as of a set date, and reopen on a set date. I think it's the same for some roads around Yellowstone and some highways that cross the Rockies. I don't see how a traffic sub would assist unless TT reports the road as closed. It just wouldn't show any traffic on those roads as it is now, but still include them in the routing. Or am I mistaken?

 

[mvl]

If you set mapshare to a less sensitive level, you'll probably have many people blocking/erasing the roads over the winter, and then unblocking them over the summer.

You could always do it yourself on your own map. The self-editing feature was the original reason I bought a tomtom over the competition.

 

[eldorado]

Don't know where you are talking about, but just my opinnion that it would be almost impossible for TT to be able to keep up with that type of suggestion, here in Calif. all you have to do is call 1-800-427-7623 or you can go here before you leave Mountain Highways of course this can not tell you of a change while you are on the road as sometimes here in Calif. they will close Interstate Hwy's due to accidents as well as weather conditions, so the cell phone is your best way to keep current.....

 

[mvl]

I'm referring to the seasonal closures. If you set mapshare to "changes reported by many" or "changes reported by few" then other people's changes will be reflected on your map without tomtom review.

It's likely that many people will block these mountain passes on their own maps and share it for the winter, then unblock it during the summer, so you would get these edits. That's the idea behind mapshare, crowdsourcing.

The individual weather/accident closures would only be available (if at all) via a traffic service.

 

[GAW]

When planning a winter trip into the mountains, there is not GPS device that can protect you from yourself.

You mentioned a ski area, so that brings to mind that there are a number of roads in Colorado, California, and others that are routinely closed in the winter after the first significant shows. These do not include interstate routes of course.

Some roads including interstates can also be closed by conditions for a period of time, and a traffic subscription might help with these.

However, you should ALWAYS find a road info number for the state you are in, and if going on a route that is not a major highway (suggest getting an old fashioned map to be able to identify these), stop and ask some locals before you venture onto them. There are many of these that effectively become suitable for 4 wheeled vehicles only plus being driven by people that know how to handle them in snow in the mountains.

The local news often tells of tragedies where drivers get into places they should not have gone in the winter and could have easily avoided if they had used common sense and especially if they had checked with some locals.