Google Maps Gets Real-Time Traffic Reports

Just once, I'd like to see somebody launch something cool from the Heartland out, instead of the other way around. Whatever it is, big cities get it first, worry about the red states later. Because if you want to take advantage of Google Maps' new real-time traffic reporting, you'll have to not live in Lexington, Kentucky.

All the traffic is in San Francisco, New York, and Chicago, apparently. And don't bother saying Lexington is whether or not it's raining. If it's raining, you're screwed: plan on long, inch-along delays.

The feature color-codes areas on the map according to the speed at which traffic is moving, corresponding with the traditional color scheme of the traffic light. Red, as you might imagine, means traffic is not really moving at all; yellow (more of an orange on my screen) means slower, but still 25-50 mph; and green means step on the gas before you get rear-ended.

It is unclear how Google collects the data for this feature, but online marketing consultant Kevin C. Tofel notes something interesting about. Google pulled a reverse on this one:

It's interesting to see a service hit mobiles first and then get migrated to the desktop clients, but there's definitely value. Folks in an office setting can quickly use Google Maps on the desktop or laptop before leaving work, for example; that's likely much easier than pulling out a mobile handheld for the same info.


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