4 ms·

Get typical traffic for roads, not just highways on Google Maps

18 points by dannyr 15y ago

kylemaxwell 15y ago
The data don't exist to get near-realtime updates, but having "typical traffic" certainly helps much more than simple estimates based on speed limits (and hopefully traffic controls like stop lights or roundabouts).
- dlokshin 15y ago
  Does Google do anything with the data it collects from those using Android Navigation? That could certainly provide enough realtime data in some parts I would think.
  - yellowbkpk 15y ago
    Yes, absolutely. I've seen the traffic status change from green to red for my stretch of road when I was stopped in traffic for a while I was running their Android navigation app.
    - pwf 15y ago
      That may be the case, but I don't think the data is actually used to route you. I missed an exit once and had my estimated transit time drop by 20 minutes, as it was going to put me on a heavily clogged highway. It knew how the traffic was too, since my traffic light changed as well, from red to green.
  - dannyr 15y ago
    If you enabled "My Location" on the Google Maps app, Google uses that data.
yellowbkpk 15y ago
They've had this feature for at least a couple years. I remember hearing that they pulled it off maps.google.com a while back (keeping it in their Android mobile Maps and Navigation apps) so perhaps they're re-releasing it after some internal changes.
ars 15y ago
TomTom has this on their GPS units, and it's a killer feature. They call it IQ routes - but it's not just some roads, it's all of them. Instead of using the defined speed limit on each road to calculate how long it takes to travel it, they use the actual speed instead (for each 15 minute segment of the day). It works really well, as long as I don't make any incorrect turns, I no longer sit in traffic.
- tocomment 15y ago
  That sounds amazing. How do I get it? Buy any Tom Tom? Do I have to subscribe to anything?
  - MrUnknown 15y ago
    It needs the IQ Routes feature. I don't know if it is standard or not.
    - ars 15y ago
      After quite a lot of research my suggestion as best for the money is the TomTom XXL 540TM. It includes lifetime map updates (the M) and an included FM traffic receiver (the T). Don't get the 550 instead, the 540 is much better. If it's too large for you, the XL 340TM is identical in everything except screen size. The other models have lots of other features (voice input, bluetooth, mp3 player), but they didn't seem worth the money to me. The only drawback I've had with it is that it takes longer than I would like to recalculate a route if you miss a turn - especially if the destination is distant.
      - tocomment 15y ago
        Thanks for looking that up. So I'm reading about the route IQ thing; it doesn't sound like it uses current traffic data to change the routes? Only historical? Also does the FM receiver work in most places? I'm pretty far away from any cities.
        15y ago
rogerbinns 15y ago
Have these Google people actually used their own app? When I bring up Google Maps for Android, the settings I get are Switch Account, Cache Settings and Labs. If I bring up Navigation then the only setting is screen dimming. Oh and both have some setting to bring up pages of legalese. Where exactly am I supposed to enable or disable this location setting? Thankfully they do support secondary roads. My Garmin GPS has a live traffic receiver but only has information on the highways and very major side roads. This means it can't make a decision about getting off the highway if there is a problem. Google also unhelpfully do not make it possible to report map errors from with the Maps/Navigation app. They claim there is parking in the middle of a park near me which is definitely not the case.

18 points by dannyr 15y ago

The data don't exist to get near-realtime updates, but having "typical traffic" certainly helps much more than simple estimates based on speed limits (and hopefully traffic controls like stop lights or roundabouts).

dlokshin 15y ago
Does Google do anything with the data it collects from those using Android Navigation? That could certainly provide enough realtime data in some parts I would think.
- yellowbkpk 15y ago
  Yes, absolutely. I've seen the traffic status change from green to red for my stretch of road when I was stopped in traffic for a while I was running their Android navigation app.
  - pwf 15y ago
    That may be the case, but I don't think the data is actually used to route you. I missed an exit once and had my estimated transit time drop by 20 minutes, as it was going to put me on a heavily clogged highway. It knew how the traffic was too, since my traffic light changed as well, from red to green.
- dannyr 15y ago
  If you enabled "My Location" on the Google Maps app, Google uses that data.

yellowbkpk 15y ago

They've had this feature for at least a couple years. I remember hearing that they pulled it off maps.google.com a while back (keeping it in their Android mobile Maps and Navigation apps) so perhaps they're re-releasing it after some internal changes.

ars 15y ago

TomTom has this on their GPS units, and it's a killer feature. They call it IQ routes - but it's not just some roads, it's all of them. Instead of using the defined speed limit on each road to calculate how long it takes to travel it, they use the actual speed instead (for each 15 minute segment of the day). It works really well, as long as I don't make any incorrect turns, I no longer sit in traffic.

tocomment 15y ago
That sounds amazing. How do I get it? Buy any Tom Tom? Do I have to subscribe to anything?
- MrUnknown 15y ago
  It needs the IQ Routes feature. I don't know if it is standard or not.
  - ars 15y ago
    After quite a lot of research my suggestion as best for the money is the TomTom XXL 540TM. It includes lifetime map updates (the M) and an included FM traffic receiver (the T). Don't get the 550 instead, the 540 is much better. If it's too large for you, the XL 340TM is identical in everything except screen size. The other models have lots of other features (voice input, bluetooth, mp3 player), but they didn't seem worth the money to me. The only drawback I've had with it is that it takes longer than I would like to recalculate a route if you miss a turn - especially if the destination is distant.
    - tocomment 15y ago
      Thanks for looking that up. So I'm reading about the route IQ thing; it doesn't sound like it uses current traffic data to change the routes? Only historical? Also does the FM receiver work in most places? I'm pretty far away from any cities.
      - 15y ago

rogerbinns 15y ago

Have these Google people actually used their own app? When I bring up Google Maps for Android, the settings I get are Switch Account, Cache Settings and Labs. If I bring up Navigation then the only setting is screen dimming. Oh and both have some setting to bring up pages of legalese. Where exactly am I supposed to enable or disable this location setting? Thankfully they do support secondary roads. My Garmin GPS has a live traffic receiver but only has information on the highways and very major side roads. This means it can't make a decision about getting off the highway if there is a problem. Google also unhelpfully do not make it possible to report map errors from with the Maps/Navigation app. They claim there is parking in the middle of a park near me which is definitely not the case.