Traffic reports online Aug24 '05

I’ve been anticipating a centralized web site that accurately depicts current traffic conditions - instead of having to dodge the blabbing idiots on the radio, until the traffic report finally comes on.

It turns out that Traffic.com has existed for some time, but I just started using it this week.

I really like the visual display, which guages traffic for your specific routes:

Screen shot of Traffic.com’s bar display

You can "track" up to nine drives - from start to finish. It typically only monitors major highways in major cities, but their coverage is growing.

Combine multiple highways into one report

The best part about this service, which differs slightly from radio traffic reports - is that it can combine highways into a single report.

For example, at the site, I can enter where I get on the highway, which connecting highways I take, and then where I exit the highway. So, instead of just a report about traffic conditions on one highway (which is what radio reports usually tell you) - I can get a complete report that combines all traffic conditions from multiple highways.

So, if I were to write an SQL query for the current traffic conditions on my route home, it would be:

<geek>

SELECT traffic FROM I_88, I_294 WHERE congestion > 50 ORDER BY datetime DESC

</geek>

Accuracy and trust

Now... is Traffic.com as accurate as the radio reports? Is it as up-to-date?

It seems that way, so far. Like I said - I’ve only tried it this week, and I’ve received good response, so far.

Typically, before I leave work, I take a good glance at it, to make sure everything is OK.

It seems to update itself every few minutes. I can’t see the radio report being that much more up-to-date.

So I’m close to trusting it, but not entirely.

Categories: Services , Travel , Web Sites

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matthom is published and produced by Matt Thommes - an independent publishing enthusiast, mobile blogger, content creator, informative writer, web developer from Chicago. Never one to conform, Matt intends to promote the effect the web has on our lives, in an effort to intensify, instruct, and clarify all that is happening around us.

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