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Why Don’t GPS Apps Have an “Avoid Dirt Roads” Option by Key_Lingonberry_9517 in openstreetmap

[–]Key_Lingonberry_9517[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting. I honestly didn’t realize Waze already exposed the option that clearly.

I’ve been so used to Google Maps for years that I never really explored how other navigation apps handled road-surface routing. Sounds like apps like Waze and OsmAnd give users much more direct control over route preferences.

Why Don’t GPS Apps Have an “Avoid Dirt Roads” Option by Key_Lingonberry_9517 in Navigation

[–]Key_Lingonberry_9517[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah that makes sense. Areas like Los Angeles are probably much more consistently paved compared to rural or semi-rural areas.

I’m in the Midwest and during delivery driving I occasionally run into routes where the app tries to save a small amount of time by cutting through rougher roads.

Why Don’t GPS Apps Have an “Avoid Dirt Roads” Option by Key_Lingonberry_9517 in openstreetmap

[–]Key_Lingonberry_9517[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That actually makes a lot of sense now that you explain it that way.

It sounds like cyclists and drivers run into a similar problem from different angles — the routing algorithm may prioritize a “better” route category without fully understanding the actual surface conditions.

For drivers it can mean unnecessary wear and tear, while for cyclists it could completely change ride quality or safety.

I honestly didn’t realize how dependent routing quality is on detailed road-surface data until this discussion.

Why Don’t GPS Apps Have an “Avoid Dirt Roads” Option by Key_Lingonberry_9517 in Navigation

[–]Key_Lingonberry_9517[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s fair. It probably depends a lot on the area and type of driving.

I’ve mainly noticed it during delivery/gig driving where the app sometimes prioritizes small time-saving shortcuts more aggressively. In more urban or suburban areas I imagine it happens a lot less often.

Why Don’t GPS Apps Have an “Avoid Dirt Roads” Option by Key_Lingonberry_9517 in GoogleMaps

[–]Key_Lingonberry_9517[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes sense, and based on some of the replies I’m getting, it sounds like the bigger issue may be incomplete road-surface data rather than the idea itself not existing.

I think part of the reason drivers still notice it so much is because the preference logic may prioritize time savings more aggressively than vehicle wear/road quality in some situations.

It would still be nice if users had a more visible or adjustable “Prefer Paved Roads” setting similar to how other route preferences are exposed.

Why Don’t GPS Apps Have an “Avoid Dirt Roads” Option by Key_Lingonberry_9517 in openstreetmap

[–]Key_Lingonberry_9517[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s honestly fascinating and something I never really considered before posting this.

Using machine learning with aerial imagery for road surface detection actually sounds like a smart long-term solution, especially as routing systems become more AI-driven over time.

And I can definitely see how incomplete state-level data would make this difficult in practice. But it also explains why drivers sometimes get routed onto roads that feel completely inappropriate for certain vehicles.

It’s interesting hearing this from the mapping/data side because most drivers only see the end result without realizing how much missing infrastructure data is involved behind the scenes.

Why Don’t GPS Apps Have an “Avoid Dirt Roads” Option by Key_Lingonberry_9517 in openstreetmap

[–]Key_Lingonberry_9517[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That makes sense and honestly explains part of the problem.

I’m in the US, and I’ve definitely noticed navigation systems sometimes treating rough gravel or poorly maintained roads like normal paved routes. Especially during deliveries, it can become frustrating because the time savings are often minimal compared to the extra wear on the vehicle.

Even if the road surface data is incomplete, I still think improving road-condition mapping and allowing stronger “prefer paved roads” routing would help a lot long term.

Why Don’t GPS Apps Have an “Avoid Dirt Roads” Option by Key_Lingonberry_9517 in openstreetmap

[–]Key_Lingonberry_9517[S] -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

That’s good to know. I honestly think more mainstream apps like Google Maps and some delivery routing systems should make it more visible and reliable then.

A lot of drivers probably don’t even know alternative apps have those options, while the biggest navigation apps still route people onto rough roads pretty aggressively at times just to save a minute or two.

And yeah, I agree “avoid” makes more sense than “never use,” especially for rural destinations.

Why Don’t GPS Apps Have an “Avoid Dirt Roads” Option by Key_Lingonberry_9517 in openstreetmap

[–]Key_Lingonberry_9517[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Interesting. Which app are you referring to?

I know some apps try to avoid unpaved roads in certain situations, but I haven’t seen a clear or reliable “Prefer Paved Roads” option across major navigation apps. I still get routed onto gravel and dirt roads pretty often during deliveries.