Google Maps traffic is cute, but no Traffic.com Mar04 '07

In a strange move, Google now includes traffic in their maps application.

I find this awkward because Google Maps is not built to be a traffic-reporting application. I go to Google Maps to find destinations and driving directions - not see how much traffic is present.

Whereas I see nothing wrong with including this extra information, I just don't think it's relevant. I don't look at Google Maps when I'm about to leave for my destination - rather, I look at it well in advance - so the traffic will have drastically changed by the time I hit the road.

Reporting the traffic is about situational timing, not about reference. Google is about reference. The difference is traffic changes frequently - maps not so frequently.

If they add traffic, why not add weather conditions? After all, we are looking at a map of a location. Why not show a sun, clouds, or snow falling onto the map?

How about historical facts about the location? They could include little snippets of famous events that occurred at that location, over the course of history.

I am, of course, being sarcastic.

But do you see how traffic is somewhat irrelevant to a maps application?

Still, I am tempted to check Google Maps when I'm about to hit the road.

However, despite my initial pessimism, I am open-minded and willing to give the traffic feature a try.

Using Google Maps as a traffic agent

Google Maps is hardly a "smart traffic agent," like Traffic.com - but with a little "pre-ground work," I think we can make it somewhat usable.

Map your route

First you'll have to map your route.

(Traffic.com allows you to set up pre-defined routes, which it then monitors and reports back to you.) Google Maps is not going to be that helpful, but let's throw it a bone.

Remember, Google Maps recently added the ability to add multiple destinations. This may help in your traffic planning.

Click the Traffic button

Once you map your route, click on the Traffic button.

You should see a colorful nest of lines superimposed over the major highways.

Here I've mapped my route from work to home:

The legend

Here is the legend:

• Green means all clear.
• Yellow means slightly congested.
• Red means very congested.

I see Gray too - although I'm not sure what that indicates.

Save your drive

In order to save your pre-defined route, for later use - you'll have to click Link to this page.

Go to the address bar and copy/paste the URL. This is a permanent URL - to share, or to reference yourself.

Now, when you want to check traffic on your route, just load up this URL. You can bookmark it in your browser if it's easier that way.

Other ideas

Using the Google Maps API, you may be able to include your traffic on your own web page.

Why Google Maps sucks as a Traffic agent

As you can see, Google Maps would be a lousy traffic agent. There's a number of things that make sites like Traffic.com very good:

• Stores all your "drives" in one convenient spot.
• Monitors the traffic for you, even when you're not looking at the site.
• Alerts you if traffic hits a certain level of congestion.
• Allows alerts to be sent to email, SMS, or even a phone call.
• RSS feeds for your traffic reports.
• Much more detailed traffic display (rather than just red, yellow, and green.)

Conclusion

The traffic feature on Google Maps is nice and simple, but it's very premature right now. If you want more detailed analysis of traffic, use Traffic.com.

Perhaps Google will enhance the "traffic experience" on Google Maps, but I certainly hope not.

Categories: Google , Maps , Traffic

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