By Alistair Wilkinson
The Automobile Association has unveiled new traffic technology which it claims will steer drivers away from jams.
It constantly tracks real traffic conditions, advising the motorist where to go.
3 News put it to test on a morning commute of 25km from the Waitakere Ranges, west of Auckland, to TV3 in Eden Terrace.
Our experiment started around 8:30am on Scenic Dr, with three drivers taking three different routes to get to TV3.
Darryn goes via Te Atatu Rd, onto the motorway - the route recommended by Google Maps. Kate takes Lincoln Rd - it's a little further, but locals swear it can be faster.
I leave my route planning to a GPS unit, powered by the new live congestion data from the AA. It tells me to weave through the suburbs, avoiding the motorway. But it updates every minute, so that could change along the way.
"What it's doing is it's constantly comparing all the different options and letting you know where there is congestion," says the AA's Phil Allen.
Dropping down the hill into Henderson, Darryn hits traffic on Alderman Dr.
Kate's crawling along Lincoln Rd, but while in Glen Eden, I get an alert - there's a faster route.
The system gets its speed data from thousands of other vehicles already using GPS systems.
It's slow going for Kate on Lincoln Rd.
In New Lynn, I resist the temptation to outguess the system. It goes against every bone in my body to go this way to get to work - maybe there's some delay on the motorway?
Over in Te Atatu, Darryn's at the on-ramp lights. It's flowing pretty good, but not as good as on New North Rd, where I turn into St Lukes Rd. I hadn't really though of coming this way in the morning.
Darryn's journey along the north-western motorway takes 10 minutes, but, up on Eden Terrace, I can't quite believe no one else is here - because I went the most bizarre route.
A minute and a half later, Darryn arrives – he can't believe I beat him. Kate arrives two minutes later still – she thought it would be faster going along the motorway.
The new unit costs just under $550, plus an annual subscription fee after the first year of around $100.
3 News