fastest route or shortest route

parsnips

i input the shortest and then the fastest route for 2 destinations

route 1 - alton towers, shortest route-1 hr 22 min-56 miles
fastest route-1 hr 24 min-62 miles.

route 2 - manchester, shortest route-2 hr 2 min-86 miles
fastest route-1 hr 41-95 miles,

why is the alton towers route quicker on the shortest route and the manchester trip quicker on the faster route?

Alikay

Because on the Manchester run, there is probably the option of using a motorway: Motorways are fast, but it'll probably be more mileage as it won't be as direct as-the-crow-flies. Alton Towers is out in the sticks near Rocester in Staffs - there isn't a motorway nearby, so the quickest way will also be the shortest way using the smaller country roads.

alanrowell

Why is the fastest route for Alton Towers SLOWER than the shortest route?

And where are you starting from?

parsnips

alanrowell wrote: »

Why is the fastest route for Alton Towers SLOWER than the shortest route?

And where are you starting from?

kidderminster in worcestershire

M4RKM

bear in mind that the shortest route sometimes will take you down dirt tracks etc, that are still considered roads..

fastest route will actually take you on the fastest route using normal roads..

yes it might be shorter, (and quicker) but it won't be the easiest..

if this is with regards to a sat nav.. the 2 options I use are fastest route (when going to somewhere) and avoid motorways (when i want the scenic route back! )

TimothyEBaldwin

parsnips wrote: »

route 1 - alton towers, shortest route-1 hr 22 min-56 miles
fastest route-1 hr 24 min-62 miles.

With respect to the journey times that is impossible by definition.

Unless you entered different criteria (or accepted different defaults, such as a start time) or the system was given new time/route information between your requests, it is broken.

Therefore if you can reproduce this, you should report it to someone who can fix it.

alanrowell

For Kidderminster to Manchester the fastest route is a thrash up the M6 but that takes you slightly west of the shortest possible route which is along A roads that seem to be mostly single carriageway.

Thus the substantial difference in travel time despite the fastest being 10 miles further

For Alton Towers you can only use motorway for a short part of the trip with most of the route on the same roads, thus the limited difference between shortest & quickest routes

Have a play with https://www.theaa.com journeyplanner and compare the routes with / without using motorways

hammy_the_hammer

also a lot of single A roads still have a speed limit of 60mph which you are highly unlikely to maintain although the sat nav. or route planner assumes this speed for travel

MarkyMarkD

Route planners make different assumptions about average speeds. Some assume 30mph for all single carriageway roads, which is pretty ridiculous.

You would assume that they'd allow you to set your typical speeds on each type of road too but most don't. Nor does my sat nav (as far as I know), which I think means it's more likely to push you down motorways all the time on the assumption they are super-fast compared to everything else.