co ordinates?

[maddog04]

just been thinking.............(too much time on me hands)
 
if you're out riding in the country for arguments sake and you come across an off/car crash and you don't really know where you are.......can google maps/other satnav apps on your moby give you a GPS 12 figure grid ref so you could tell the emergency service operator exactly where you were?
 
 

[BBROWN1664]

depends on the app.

[richfzs]

Or if you're worse off, and can't use your phone - the real rider app will contact the emergency services for you (it's been developed in conjunction with the ambulance services, they are set up to respond to "shouts" from the app) and tell them where you are. It uses all sorts of sensors in the phone, to detect a crash - dead clever!

Not free though

[richfzs]

Sorry, just realised you meant if you find an accident, not if you have one! Google maps will at least allow you to find where you are and give a description?

[Hedgetrimmer]

I noticed in Wales, MAG in conjunction with the police have set up a system whereby all the yellow Ride Safe signs have a number so if you're near one of those, you just call in the number on the sign to identify where you are. The signs are all over the place, but I wonder how effective it will be. Still, it all helps.

[stevierst]

I noticed in Wales, MAG in conjunction with the police have set up a system whereby all the yellow Ride Safe signs have a number so if you're near one of those, you just call in the number on the sign to identify where you are. The signs are all over the place, but I wonder how effective it will be. Still, it all helps.

I like the idea of this. I ride in the lakes a lot, and there's rarely a phone signal up in the good roads.

I'll be letting a mate of mine know in Cumbria cops, he might get a pat on the back for it.:P

[Hedgetrimmer]

Would be good if it could be set up nationwide. It wouldn't necessarily have to be just on Ride Safe signs. Maybe just on certain road signs (e.g. speed limit signs, just as an example), or a separate system specially introduced.

[stevierst]

Would be good if it could be set up nationwide. It wouldn't necessarily have to be just on Ride Safe signs. Maybe just on certain road signs (e.g. speed limit signs, just as an example), or a separate system specially introduced.

This is getting better by the minute! I believe that pretty much every post, lamp stand, telegraph pole, and speed sign has a unique reference number that each department uses to locate them. Problem being that they're not all on the same register!

[robby boy]

I may be speaking crap here, but one of my mates rolled his tractor in a field in the middle of nowhere, he was trapped in the cab but managed to call the emergency services from his mobile, they managed to trace his location from his signal and the ambulance stopped on acountry road 100 yards from his location.

[stevierst]

Your right, they can triangulate your position via your phone, but the phone company's charge the emergency services a fortune for it!

Scandalous really when lives are are at risk.

[t140]

the built in compass app on the i phone gives a grid ref.

[maddog04]

some great info here fellas, nice one
Stevie......great points ref the telegraph poles/lamp posts etc
I aint got an IPhone but would be good to have such an app that gives your co ordinates.......I'll look into that
rider app is being offered to us in work but though it doesn't record your speed, it wouldn't take a rocket scientist long to fathom that to get from A to B in x minutes meant you were over the speed limit..........this is putting people off getting it
never heard of the Ride safe signs but they sound good
 
shocking that the phone companies charge loads to give vital info

[maddog04]

numpty question, if I use Google maps, do I have to have an internet connection or GPS turned on........obviously the more stuff switched on drains the battery or can it be done "off line" so to speak?

[stevierst]

numpty question, if I use Google maps, do I have to have an internet connection or GPS turned on........obviously the more stuff switched on drains the battery or can it be done "off line" so to speak?

Afaik you have to switch on your 3G at least.
For it to be more accurate, you have to put your satellite setting on though, as the 3G location can be out by quite a bit.

[Davebo]

Try the GB Converter app which maps grid references -> https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/gb-grid-converter/id382369923?mt=8

Also some android options - https://play.google.com/store/search?q=grid%20converter&c=apps&hl=en_GB