Can street maps the navigation systems use be updated?

The road I live on once connected two major roadways within the city. The city took a large section of land from homeowners (using eminent Domain) on one end of the road and built a large high school complex. When they did that traffic was no longer allowed to pass and the road I live on is now effectively a dead end, the streets off of it are also dead ends. So the only way out of the neighborhood is the same road used to enter. This occurred about 10 years ago and there's constantly people traveling waaaaay over the posted speed limit (20 MPH school zone) usually with out of state plates or in rental cars. Once they reach the locked school gates where the road now dead ends they do a three point turn then come back up the road going even faster because they've lost more time trying to get to their destination.

The amount of traffic and speeding is bad enough that the neighbors have petitioned the city to conduct a traffic calming survey to coincide with an upcoming roadway renovation as part of the project complete streets program. The traffic calming study will likely produce results that indicate something should be done. Roundabouts at intersections on the road would cost about $15,000.00 more than a typical intersection and speed bumps are less than 1/4 of that so the transportation specialist managing the complete streets project is pushing for the new style speed bumps with the cut outs for emergency vehicles if the survey indicates a problem.

I am the neighborhood representative for the complete streets project so the traffic problem has become mine to address. I initiated the traffic calming study petition (because of neighbor request)  even though as a car guy I don't want speed bumps and realize they would be the likely remedy. There's only 35 houses in the neighborhood so if I can reduce the bus traffic and the private vehicle student drop offs along with reducing unnecessary traffic caused by out dated navigation maps I may be able to avoid roundabouts, speed bumps, or other traffic calming methods.

Yes, I'm working on plans with the city and school for the buses and private student drops and I'm also aware of the non-Newtonian fluid speed bumps that aren't available here yet. I'd rather just reduce traffic volume, the speeders don't live here. It's the outsiders causing the problems.

So, anyone have any idea how to update the street maps the navigation systems use? If the maps are based on aerial photography of pavement the pics would appear that one could drive around the school using the access roads for the school to get to the main road however the school is fenced off with gates. 

For the google pros the it's Atlantic High School Delray Beach FL and Davis Rd. which is North of the school is the street with problems.

There are only a handful of companies that provide the actual mapping data. Google has its own AFAIK (good luck getting in touch with those guys...), Here/NavTeq and there are two or three others. Oh, and there's OpenStreetMap. Most of them do have a procedure by which you can file map errors.

That's not going to help though with cars that are using outdated maps because the owners didn't install updated maps or the manufacturers aren't providing mapping updates anymore. It should help with phone-based navigation and (maybe) those GPS units people buy at Walmart, assuming the owners actually bother to update the maps.

Yes, most navigational systems have maps that can be updated. 

They generally update based on GIS and similar data, so when that changes they can update their maps.

Whether the rental agency's and device manufacturers choose to do so, is another matter.

The systems built-in to the cars typically require money from the manufacturer to update and a visit to the dealer to get an update via memory card or DVD.

The standalones can also cost money, but often require someone to manually download and install it on the device.

Generally, when I travel, I use my smartphone as it tends to have more up to date maps and live data.

Can they be updated? Usually.

Do they get updated? Almost never.

For Google from a real computer.  Here is a screen shot.  At the very bottom, in black it is showing a time of 12:17pm.   Immediately above that it shows a scale of 10 miles equals length.  Right next to that is "Send Feedback" 

First pull up your address on Goggle Maps, click on "send feedback" and follow the prompts.  

I'd get a big yellow "no outlet" sign at the entrance to the neighborhood, and a bigger "still no outlet, stupid" sign on the gates of the closed road. Maybe there would also be a "use your eyes, not your phone" sign on the gate. 

Doesn't help wtih speeding, unfortunately.

About updating Google maps, there should be a way, as it is in their best interest to keep their data accurate.

And I should culminate this post by saying id be one of the three point turners for sure if I was not familiar with the area. I hope I don't speed through neighborhoods though.

Here is a link to www.gps.gov and their steps to make correction notifications to the public companies.  

GPS.gov is maintained by the National Coordination Office for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing.  

Be mindful that step #2 is  "Wait Patiently"  

Interesting, I used Google, Bing, and MapQuest to look at the area.  All of them show Davis Road as a dead end at the school.  Seems unlikely that any navigation  would be using the road as a route to go anywhere.  Going to try another experiment.

Google maps (and others) typically get their street data from the county's GIS department. I'd reach out to them and see if their data is current as a start. 

Put a Road Closed or Dead End sign at the top of the street?

I can't help either....

Ok, tried an actual route in Google Maps thru the area.  From the Lake Ida Supermarket on Lake Ida Road north of the area to the Delray Garden Center on W Atlantic Ave south of the area.  It took me east across the canal? then south and back west across the canal again.  It did show using Davis Road as a walking route which would take 33 min. versus 4 min. by car.

Maybe people don't know how to use their navigation systems!

To NOT A TA:  Robbie's idea of "No Outlet Dead End" signs is much better than speed bumps.  Speed bumps won't keep the traffic out which is the desired result.  And I would have the signs placed at Davis Road and Dorson Way.

In reply to Hal :

I believe the issue then is that the vehicle based or standalone navigational units aren't updated.

Since those aren't usually connected to cellular or wireless networks and rarely do their receive updates to their maps that way, it is up to the rental agencies or the owners to update the systems.

Oh, forgot to mention that there's some studies out there that show speed bumps actually increase the average traffic speed in the area where they're installed. I can reach out to someone I know and get you names if you want. 

In my experience, neighborhoods with really low speed limits (25mph or less) or speed humps are usually the shortcuts, so having them won't deter most traffic. The No Outlet sign prominently displayed at the entrance of the neighborhood is likely the best solution.

No Outlet sign at the entrance to the road. Slightly further down, a Dead End sign too (possibly with a yellow square indicating distance below).

People might ignore the No Outlet sign, but Dead End is unmistakable.

Stefan said:

In reply to Hal :

I believe the issue then is that the vehicle based or standalone navigational units aren't updated.

Since those aren't usually connected to cellular or wireless networks and rarely do their receive updates to their maps that way, it is up to the rental agencies or the owners to update the systems.

And even when you want to update your factory nav there may not be an update available.  That is why I did not get navigation when I bought my 2015 Outback.  Dealer had to get it from another dealer since they didn't have any with out navigation on the lot.  I much prefer cellular navigation.  When I need navigation I can have Google Maps on top and Apple Maps below.

Can’t help but notice you’re searching for 2007 prius’... lol. 

Thank you all for the responses!

I've already got the dead end/no outlet signs covered in the plans for the complete streets project. I will try the links like GPS.gov you've presented and see if I can update. I will have the city transportation guy contact the county GIS folks.

Hal, the walk Googles says is possible is not without climbing over a tall fence, tall wall, or swimming across the canal. there is only one way in/out of the neighborhood for pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles and that is the bridge over the canal on Davis Rd.

This traffic calming request is only one small facet of the project. I'm just trying to avoid any use of speed bumps, roundabouts etc. if there's another way and the lost people are the worst of the speed offenders. The remainder of the speed offenders are people dropping their kids off for school so a once a year police radar trap issuing warnings at the beginning of the year to scare them and one of those portable speed indicator signs for a couple days after the winter break  as a reminder would keep their speeds down enough. Residents aren't the problem.

Update:

I started stopping delivery trucks after they go through aggravating 3 point turns at the dead end and found Garmin GPS is sending them down the road.

I've asked city transportation specialist if he can check county GIS info and if he knows how to get Garmin updated. I tried the Garmin site but did not find a way to update their maps. I probably just don't know the secret handshake.