Rationale behind (US) ramp names?

[Timbones]

I'm curious about how the Wiki editing guidelines decided upon, specifically with regards to naming of ramps. Taking a random example from the Wiki: "Exit 24: Schwarzenegger Rd" - it seems to me that the guidelines are optimised for navigation purposes, with strong emphasis on matching the signage.

There's a discussion over in the UK forum about our own guidelines for ramp naming. Currently, we include the current road in the ramp name to aid traffic reports. So, using US road names and style, we might have something like this: "I-310 (S) Exit 24".

The argument for why we do this is for the benefit traffic reports. So, I'm wondering why the US guidelines don't include this information. Is it not needed? Does the nearby city give enough information? Are ramps immune from traffic jams? How does this work with TTS?

FWIW: I'm not trying to incite a flame war here, I'm just trying to understand.

[AlanOfTheBerg]

Currently, the ramps are named primarily for readability, TTS, and to match the driver's experience in what they see out the window. If Waze matchs the signage, drivers have a higher level of confidence. They are not immune to traffic jams, and those are the biggest issue with the current naming structure. I will often see something like Heavy traffic on "to Hwy 26 W" for which it will repeat for several of the 15 of these exactly named ramps.

We did not want to get into naming a segment with the name of the previous or next segment because that's not accurate. What we are expecting to happen, eventually, is that Waze will adjust the traffic jam alerts such that the from street information from the previous intersection will be included in some manner. So, something more like Heavy traffic reported on "US-26 W ramp from Murray Blvd" would be great. In fact, that doesn't even require that a ramp be named at all. But there's all sorts of exceptions to this too.

[jasonh300]

There was mention at the meetup about the importance of the directional suffix on Interstates and US Hwys, specifically for the traffic reports. It's especially important in an area like San Francisco where a local TV network affiliate is using Waze for the morning traffic reports.

It might be important to apply this to exit ramps also, since there's usually two Exit 24s, one from each direction. There shouldn't be any question about which highway this exit is off of because, although Schwartzenegger Rd might cross more than one interstate, it's unlikely that both interstates will have the same exit number for that road.

If someone reports an accident or hazard on the ramp, does the ramp name appear in the alert?

Maybe ramp functionality could be changed to make it apply the alert to the segment immediately before the ramp, which would probably further screw up the TTS and display of ramp naming we already have.

[WeeeZer14]

I probably sound like a broken record, but numerous times I have commented that the name we apply to road segments is trying to do multiple things which don't always agree. Example to tie back into the example quoted from the wiki:

1.) Name to show on the map (Exit 24)
2.) Name to display for directions (Exit 24: Schwarzenegger Rd)
3.) Name to show on traffic reports (I-310 S Exit 24)

A ramp is not the best example since the name to show on the map is hidden, but the other two cases are still very true.

[mapcat]

If someone reports an accident or hazard on the ramp, does the ramp name appear in the alert?

I think not. Today I saw a hazard popup for ", Columbus". It was on a ramp, but went away too fast for me to notice which one.

[WeeeZer14]

I just had a thought to add to my statement on the multiple purposes... out of the 3 I listed, the name for directions I believe is the most important.

Although the display name is important, ideally a driver is not going to use the visual map to navigate. They should be using Waze to tell them when to turn and looking out their windshield. It took me a while to come to grips with this, but we are NOT using Waze to make maps that are pretty to look at. We are making maps for a tool that helps people get from point A to B.

The name shown on traffic reports isn't critical because the driver should be using Waze to navigate. A traffic jam is only truly important if it is on your route. If you are using Waze in active navigation mode, Waze will know it is on your route. If Waze still sends you that way, that means that the route with traffic is still quicker than anything else Waze knows.

[sketch]

I probably sound like a broken record, but numerous times I have commented that the name we apply to road segments is trying to do multiple things which don't always agree. Example to tie back into the example quoted from the wiki:

1.) Name to show on the map (Exit 24)
2.) Name to display for directions (Exit 24: Schwarzenegger Rd)
3.) Name to show on traffic reports (I-310 S Exit 24)

A ramp is not the best example since the name to show on the map is hidden, but the other two cases are still very true.

I do like this idea! It'd require something I had an idea for a couple years ago: a separate field for exit number. The number could then be displayed on its own shield in the direction field, eliminating the need for "Exit" in the field (though it would still be read aloud), thereby allowing more space for control cities or street names.

[WeeeZer14]

I do like this idea! It'd require something I had an idea for a couple years ago: a separate field for exit number. The number could then be displayed on its own shield in the direction field, eliminating the need for "Exit" in the field (though it would still be read aloud), thereby allowing more space for control cities or street names.

We don't need any complex changes for this. Related to exit naming we were discussing in the thread that started by talking about TTS and Saint vs. Street, if we have the standard use the format of "Exit xx: blah blah blah", then the exit number can easily be parsed out and be used in many ways (displayed on map, displayed in a rectangle for next turn instruction, etc etc).

And there is a fourth use that I couldn't remember before... address lookup which could match one (but not all) of the other 3 uses.

[AlanOfTheBerg]

If someone reports an accident or hazard on the ramp, does the ramp name appear in the alert?

I think not. Today I saw a hazard popup for ", Columbus". It was on a ramp, but went away too fast for me to notice which one.

They definitely do. Every day I see several automated traffic reports for "to US-26 W" and "to US-26 E" in the Portland area. It would be less common for an exit ramp, but still possible. They aren't suppressed for ramp type roads.

[harling]

...we are NOT using Waze to make maps that are pretty to look at. We are making maps for a tool that helps people get from point A to B...

+1