Google Expands Traffic Maps

Police officers, sheriff’s deputies, EMS units and fire engines are always trying to get somewhere quickly, and now Google has upgraded its mapping service to show traffic congestion for local streets. The new service could be used by dispatchers or emergency workers to plot their response to incidents. Google’s maps have long been able to show traffic for major highways and streets, coding them as green, yellow and red to indicate congestion. The information is obtained from roadside sensors operated by several companies, relayed to Google and integrated with maps. Now, Google will begin receiving speed data from motorists who are using Google Mobile on their smartphone, and analyzing it to create local street congestion data. The company says that the more persons who drive with their Google Mobile application running, the more accurate the results. Check traffic for your local streets, and read more about the service here.