Google traffic how does it work

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Premium 1, Indian pilgrims to visit Pakistan for Gurupurab. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters. Internet Not Available. When Android phone users turn on their Google Maps app with GPS location enabled, the phone sends back bits of data, anonymously, to Google that let the company know how fast their cars are moving.

Google Maps continuously combines the data coming in from all the cars on the road and sends it back by way of those colored lines on the traffic layers [source: Barth ]. As more and more drivers use the app, the traffic predictions become more reliable because Google Maps can look at the average speed of cars traveling along the same route without misinterpreting someone's morning coffee stop as a traffic jam.

If Google Maps doesn't have enough data to estimate the traffic flow for a particular section of road, that section will appear in gray on the traffic layer [source: Google Help ]. With its acquisition of Waze in , Google added a human element to its traffic calculations. Drivers use the Waze app to report traffic incidents including accidents, disabled vehicles, slowdowns and even speed traps [sources: Palmer , Waze ].

These real-time reports appear as individual points on Google Maps, with small icons representing things like construction signs, crashed cars or speed cameras. Sign up for our Newsletter!

Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Do you like our blog? Wanna join the team? Contact us: info geoawesomeness. Sign in. Log into your account. Forgot your password? Password recovery. Recover your password. That said, it appears that Google Maps ignores when lots of users are at a standstill. Relax and be free from anxiety Take back good sleep and help alleviate pain.

Interestingly, not all vehicles are treated equally. Google Maps can tell the difference between a car, motorcycle, and other vehicles at least in certain countries and regions.