Google Traffic comes to Cape Town

Cape Town motorists now have access to live traffic updates through Google Maps, following the launch of Google’s traffic data system in South Africa.

The system, which was also introduced in Johannesburg and Pretoria, allows drivers to see real-time traffic conditions, and provides them with estimated travel times based on the current traffic speed.

Traffic conditions can be checked by visiting maps.google.co.za and clicking on the “Traffic” category on the upper right-hand side of the screen. The traffic flow is shown in a colour-coded scale, from slow to fast (black to green).

Google compiles the information it receives from drivers with Google Maps and GPS (Global Positioning System)-enabled mobile phones which describe how fast their cars are moving. The search engine giant is then able to make a reasonably accurate estimation of the overall traffic conditions.

Google is expanding its coverage to include other South African cities in the near future.