Google Maps has introduced live traffic data feeds in South Africa and six other countries across the world including Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Mexico, Peru and Romania. It will also update already existing live traffic data feeds in 19 other countries.
The crowd-sourced traffic data that can show traffic is moving slowly and can be used to warn users to take up an alternative less congested route.
The data can also tell the traffic flow pace or even an individual car’s speed.
Users can in addition check the data on an Internet-enabled mobile or computer. Traffic authorities can as well use it to monitor traffic flow.
“Crowd-sourcing traffic gives us a way to harness bits of location data from our users and give it back to them in a form they can use to make impactful decisions,” Dave Barth, product manager for Google Maps said on the earlier US launch.
In a blog post, Matthias Ernst, Software Engineer for Google Maps, said the traffic data allows users to view traffic conditions and estimated travel times.
Ernst hopes the feature will help more users around the globe to save time and patience by planning their trips accordingly.
Google Maps also updated and expanded the service to more roads in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and the UK.
Travellers or drivers can now check for traffic conditions by visiting Maps.google.com or Google Maps and Google Maps Navigation on mobile.
Google maps earlier this month introduced Google Map Maker in South Africa and Egypt, which allows locals to contribute to the maps by adding real life details on the map of their favourite places in their neighbourhoods — including local food bar, restaurant, new school and even adding features of already existing places on the maps.
