Ontario - 401 Express vs Collectors

Who is driving? You or the GPS? These things are pretty dumb and don't necessarily know about express lanes - or at least Garmin hasn't implemented them into their routing algorithms.

@suitea:

I've noticed the same behavior along the 401 throughout the GTA, with 2008, 2009 and 2010 maps and with three different nuvi models. It is what it is...

If you don't like the nuvi's penchant for the Collectors, you can switch to the Express lanes and it will recalculate

I have noticed that Nuvi keeps you in collector lanes on 401 but if there is traffic in collector lanes then switches you to express lanes. But I ignore it go to express lanes if I am going on a longer trip. Then it switches to express lanes eventually. It can not sense express or collector lanes on certain tranfer points to express lanes. It must be GPS senstivity which can not determin difference between collector and express lanes at most of the places on 401.

On mine, I've noticed if I will be making an exit that requires me to leave the express lanes or toward the collectors at a branch, it will route using the collector lanes. If my route ends up with a branch opposite the collectors, it will route the express lanes. It is what it is. I usually ignore the instructions to take the collectors.

The only fear that I have is that if I ignore the collectors and remain on the express (which in some cases makes sense from a practical standpoint), then I might legitimately miss the turn-off if I dont exit on to the collectors at the right transfer.

That's funny, my Nuvi always puts me in the express lanes in the Detroit area and when a exit is coming it then puts me in the collector lanes at the right time.

As TXRVer says - There is no substitute for local knowledge. If you don't know the area, then paying attention to what the GPS tells you and what the local signs state should keep you out of trouble. The signs along the express routes in our area give plenty of warning about which exit to take to get to the surface streets.

If you have set your GPS to avoid the TOLLS it may be keeping you on the collectors vs express thinking that the express lanes may cause tolls as well.

I had a buisness trip in Toronto a few months ago when I took my old StreetPilot and also old maps. When I was on the 401, it seemed to route me on the express and collector lanes at the appropriate times.

I have since gotten a newer GPS and updated the maps on it. If I have another trip to Toronto, it would be interesting to see if I have the problems that you are describing with it.

The route to avoid when travelling in Canada is the 407 which will happily mail you a bill for using the roadway.
I got caught twice, now I stay on the 401 and 403 to make it through Toronto when I visit friends in Scarborough.
I noticed that about the Collectors with my Nuvi885T but I used the express instead until I came close to the exit I needed

It's interesting that you say you used an older GPS. I too am using a Nuvi 350 which is older and have not noticed it using collector lanes as opposed to express. I wonder if this phenomenon occurs with newer units only.

Can anyone tell me where to go in my Garmin 765T to choose the type of roads to avoid?

I beg to differ with that "Who is driving". I have used several Garmin Nuvi's, all of them do not know the difference between Express lanes and the collectors in Canada. They push the driver to drive on collectors first then after few minutes direct to go into express lane, then after few minutes again push to drive into collectors. When you are driving into Express lane, they still think you are in collectors lane. So, it is big confusion with Nuvi and a big mess on Highway. But, if you use Tom Tom. They properly guide you through Express or collectors, as per selected route and the distance. It is very rubust and precise PND, with IQ routes and lot of nice information along the route. I own both, like both and use them as per requirement.

Yes, Please turn on your Nuvi, tap on "Tools", then, "Settings" on next screen, then "Navigation", on 3rd screen. Then, tap on "ENABLED" button under the "Avoidances". You can put a check mark as per your requirement here. But, unfortunately, it will not make any difference on HWY 401 and it will stil guide you to collectors lane and then express lanes, back and forth, no matter what is the distance of route etc. Nuvi do not work properly on Hwy 401. No matter what Nuvi you use.

Is there a way in the GArmin 765T to set different speeds for the Collectors vs Highways so that the route will choose the Highway instead of the Collectors? Eg. setting the Highway speed at 100Km vs Collectors 90Km so that the fastest route would choose the Highways?

As far as I know, there are no such settings in the Garmin 765T or any other Nuvi. As I wrote before, no matter what we do, all Nuvi PND's do not guide you properly on 401. They just like you to drive on collectors first and then Express and then collectors again and so on. I think Garmin does not pay attention to Canadian Roads and Navigation.
"Traffic Speeds" on MSN traffic service still not working here, although we are paying the same amount of money for MSN service as advertised, as well as "Gas prices" not working so far. Nuvi 765T were bricked a few months ago, they repaired mine and returned back after a month, I asked to change mine with different Nuvi, they refused, even if it was just 2 months old.

In my previous vehicle I had a built in after market system that showed the collectors and express lanes separately in Canada, also in Ohio, it showed the difference of the main freeway and the express lanes, however since I now have my Nuvi, it shows simply one large red line for both sides of the freeway, but for what else it does, I still like my Nuvi.

I've also noticed this, and I think that it's due to the distance...

If I am going to a location that is to the left of the 401, in the direction that I've travelling, it seems to use the express and collectors correctly.

If I am going to a location that is to the right of the 401, in the direction that I've travelling, it seems to only want to use the collectors.

I think that it is a matter of a few meters that makes it act this way...

Just an observation that I've noticed in the past...

My Nuvi 260 did the same thing to me but I found that I had set the preferences to the shortest route, not the fastest. Using the collector lanes is marginally the shortest route when passing through TO (heading west at least)