Cool new (for me) Google Maps feature: Traffic conditions on Surface Streets

[SDGuy]

I've gotten used to using Google Maps to check highway traffic conditions. It looks like in the past day or so, they've also added surface street traffic (at least for San Diego-YMMV), something Caltrans doesn't even show. In the below screen capture, the thin lines are all surface streets around the San Diego region. I have no idea what they're using for data sources, but I won't complain (as long as it's accurate).

Edit - looks like they've been at work on adding this since August. They must have just recently got to San Diego.

[M A V I C]

IME, in your city the highway info isn't even accurate. I've been stopped on 8 and Google shows it as green.

Just checked and they're doing this in Seattle too. I see they even have road construction noted.

[C(-)ris]

Not accurate in Minneapolis at all. Well, at least not usefull. Any street with stoplights is always red everywhere. Doesn't really give you an idea of how congested it is if it is always red because cars are stopped at lights.

[Winston]

We had this on my wife's iPhone this past Sunday driving back from the holiday. It appeared to be pretty accurate on the interstate portion. I couldn't get my wife to let me navigate her around it, so I didn't get a chance to try the surface streets for comparison.

Having traffic info on a mobile device will be great, assuming they can work out bugs like the ones referred to.

I wonder where they get the data? I know there are trucks with satellite transponders that are in one system. Is there cellphone data too? (Tracking of moving cellphones on streets.)


Good luck.

- Winston

[Don C]

We have a "Trimark" system with live cameras, which when working can be helpful covering most of the interstates.

The public radio stations give traffic reports, but it appears that they buy one report around 4 in the afternoon and just repeat that through the rush hour. OTOH, the "live"reports on the commercial stations often amaze me by what I hear being reported as I drive through the area being discussed.

[Wags]

I have Google Maps on my Android phone and use it a lot while driving my taxi. I've found it to be the most useful device I've ever bought, if only for that particular app. The traffic view seems to be spot on here in Portland about 95% of the time. Its kind of cool the zoom in and watch it GPS track you in real time. I haven't opened the Thomas Brothers since I got it.

[M A V I C]

Wags wrote:
I have Google Maps on my Android phone and use it a lot while driving my taxi. I've found it to be the most useful device I've ever bought, if only for that particular app. The traffic view seems to be spot on here in Portland about 95% of the time. Its kind of cool the zoom in and watch it GPS track you in real time. I haven't opened the Thomas Brothers since I got it.

OR or MA?

[Wags]

M A V I C wrote:
[quote=Wags]
I have Google Maps on my Android phone and use it a lot while driving my taxi. I've found it to be the most useful device I've ever bought, if only for that particular app. The traffic view seems to be spot on here in Portland about 95% of the time. Its kind of cool the zoom in and watch it GPS track you in real time. I haven't opened the Thomas Brothers since I got it.

OR or MA?
Orygun