Google has started rolling out traffic estimates for Google Maps users in selected areas. When you search for driving directions in places with the feature, you’ll see an ideal or average time at the top, followed by a time marked “in current traffic.” Google says it relies on “live and historic traffic data” to calculate that time. I’ve tried it for several locations around Australia, and it seems to be working OK – see graphic.
My research indicates that some of the information is pulled from public traffic authorities, but Google also looks like it’s using data from people who have turned on the My Location feature in Android. Previously, Google included traffic data in a separate map overlay, but it wasn’t incorporated into directions.
This news was originally sourced from Adi Robertson’s article published in The Verge on 29/3/2012, with additional content by me – The Zedman.
