Some live traffic and weather links

[sgould]

Here is a list of weblinks that give up-to-date traffic and weather links.

These are the ones that I use before going on a journey.  If you know of any more free ones, post them here.

Obviously you will need to add your own location!!

Traffic


http://www.trafficmaster.net/login.asp
Just a demo to show what info trafficmaster can provide.  You can subscribe, but as I live within the M25 the demo starts in the right place, but does run to Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol/Cardiff and Newcastle


http://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic/traffic.aspx
Highways Agency Website.  Traffic maps, Traffic Cameras, Adverse weather, etc.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/london/
BBC Travel News.  Roads and Rail. With maps.

http://routes.tomtom.com/?Lid=1#/map/?center=52.466705%2C-1.9167023&zoom=9&map=basic
The online traffic info, based on the "Live Traffic Info" that is sent to the Tomtom range of satnavs for route planning.


Weather


http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/ee/garston_forecast_weather.html
The Met Office Forecast


http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/today.asp?zipcode=St+Albans
Metcheck, the alternative weather forecast


http://www.raintoday.co.uk/
Rainfall Radar showing the Uk over the last two hours.

[Mark B]

Check out traffic jams in far off lands here:-

http://www.tomtom.com/livetraffic/

[ReAxs7]

If you are travelling north of the border in Scotland you may wish to try

http://trafficscotland.org/index.aspx
Live traffic info; list or map, Live traffic cameras, Journey times etc.

[Norfolk Jim]

I agree on Metcheck and use it loads when planning a trek in the hills. V accurate and updated often.

My Garmin does its live traffic updates immediatley once your destination set to 'GO' and looks miles ahead and keeps checking as obviously 'Live' through NuLink. Has been brill so far but no good for other users..

I weather forecast I've recently used which has been really really good is this one.

http://unitedkingdom.meteoconsult.co.uk/united-kingdom-weather/weather_forecast_united_kingdom_0.php?xtor=EPR-1

Afraid its French based but seems pretty good and have used it a few times now and can e-mail forecast to your mobile through any e-mail account each day. You subscribe but its free. It gives long range for 12 days..................and days in detail.

[dw]

If you have an iPhone and possibly another type of smartphone there is at least one ap that interrogates the Traffic web sites and gives a list of traffic problems. (It needs a 3G connection or Wifi

and if you have a way of showing GoogleMaps on the smart phone you can see the road speed and hence and indication of traffic density.   

[Kev_Mc]

For weather forecasts, I find this one's usually fairly accurate:

http://www.netweather.tv/index.cgi?action=forecast;type=home;sess=

If you are travelling up Sheffield way - this one is excellent for the current weather:

http://www.sheffieldweather.co.uk/meso2/

[Norfolk Jim]

That Netweather seems to be pretty accurate Kev

Seems to be coming up trumps with our weather. Very good compared with meteoconsult

[Audax]

Does anyone know of a service that gives you historical traffic jam data? I'm starting a new job soon so will have to commute to a different place, some kind of map that tells me of places where there have been common hold-ups in the past and at which time of day would be really useful as it's also quite a long commute and I'm trying to decide between lodging and driving.

[sgould]

Traffic forecaster:

http://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic/forecast.aspx

Or just look at the tomtom live on the computer just before you set out.  But it's the original links I posted that show the incidents on the day that are the most useful. 

[Kev_Mc]

Traffic forecaster:

http://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic/forecast.aspx

Or just look at the tomtom live on the computer just before you set out.  But it's the original links I posted that show the incidents on the day that are the most useful. 

I usually look at the TomTom live site before I go on a decent journey. Far better than relying on the Traffic Alert thing on the car radio which is usually out of date. I've called radio stations in the past to warn of problems on the M1. Didn't hear anything about it for 40 minutes afterwards - that's a lot of cars into the back of the queue.

[Norfolk Jim]

My Garmin is excellent for traffic warning using its nulink system, not Traffic Master.

As soon as you put in your destination it warns of traffic problems and it tells you where they all are on your route, how bad they are and re-routes you to avoid them (if you want) and it's always up to date - I suppose its a bit like TomTom Live but I prefer it. Its never let me down yet although I haven't as yet tested it in Europe? Of course if traffic suddenly gets bad due to an accident you can then Google somewhere to eat etc

[Audax]

Or just look at the tomtom live on the computer just before you set out.  But it's the original links I posted that show the incidents on the day that are the most useful.

Trouble is the route covers 4 major roads, a few minor ones and about 80 minutes of driving each way. That's enough to commute and get in my nice warm comfy bed every night but if it's likely to be delayed every other day then I'd get lodgings so the conditions on the actual day I drive are somewhat irrelevant as there will always be a day when you just keep getting delayed.

My record for delays was about 30 minutes to work over a 3 mile route when I couldn't get out the car park as a courier had abandoned a van in the entrance while trying to deliver a parcel, getting up the road to find builders were unloading a lorry with a crane which meant another wait, then getting stuck behind a tractor that then got stuck behind someone hedge cutting, after this I made a break for freedom started to make some progress and there was a 400 metre stretch of roadworks and of all things there was a late 1800's steam roller travelling the other direction which took about 5 changes of the lights to get past and then finally I got stuck behind Mr Magoo out for a drive for the last mile at 20mph. Of all things, that day I'd planned to cycle in but decided against it as I was already running a bit late although if I had have cycled I'd have been there pretty much on time! My boss didn't believe my excuses either which tbh I don't blame him as it sounded so far fetched.

[Norfolk Jim]

I'd move closer to job and walk/bike.......................mind you going to sis in laws on Thurs - normal drive of about 45 mins. 1 mile from her house traffic stationary and 3 lorries on opposite side of road - all were unloading sheep into some random field! No sat nav or traffic alerts would have picked that up. Had to wait while all 3 unloaded as plod had stopped traffic - 15 mins and not a sheep dog in sight! Norfolk for you.

[Audax]

I'd move closer to job and walk/bike.......................

I am moving closer to the job, just that won't happen until I've been doing it for 6 weeks hence trying to work out if lodging or driving is best, it works out pretty much the same neutral either way as lodging costs work out to be about the same as petrol, obviously the 2 to 3 hours in the car every day will be lost time but my own bed is more appealing in many ways!

[Norfolk Jim]

There's pros and cons.

Being at home you sleep in your own bed so theoretically you sleep better and perhaps eat better.

Staying in lodgings means you should be more relaxed before going to work as you haven't got the driving stress.

I worked away for 3 months on a design/build contract stuck in a Portacabin from 8.30 - 5.30 Mon - Fri with contractors in and out all day. I found it much better to bed & breakfast locally and go home Friday at 5.30 prompt with just under 2 hour drive and have nice relaxed weekend then either drive back late Sunday or early Monday. It actually cost me slightly more but the benefits in not be stressed out from daily drive outweighed that completely. That was some 15 years ago and now lodgings would work out much cheaper than driving with fuel costs still going up.