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Google Maps Directions Adds Real-Time Traffic Estimates
First time accepted submitter constpointertoconst writes "If you use Google Maps to calculate directions, you may now notice (if your route is covered by their traffic data) an 'in current traffic' travel estimate for current route. Some may recall that Google Maps had a similar estimate in the past, but it was removed last year due to poor accuracy."
Another great way to avoid getting speeding tickets is to not break the speed limit.
No they're not. It is just the classic Google Maps "get directions" feature, but with realtime traffic estimates. Suppose your comment was just a way to bash Google.
Actually, what I think the parent is worried about is how Android navigation might provide information to Google, and from a programming point of view it seems entirely possible (and even sensible) to correlate map tile request frequency with traffic flow (I assume Android navigation fetches new map tiles as needed). So, conceivably Google could collect and archive information like 'john.doe@gmail.com's mobile phone is travelling at 90 mph along the Interstate' if you use Google Maps for turn-by-turn navigation.
On the other hand, it's my understanding that traffic data is purchased from companies like transport companies who fit their trucks with GPS for realtime logistics purposes (I've sometimes seen alerts for traffic queues on empty roads where there are transport lorries parked by the roadside). These days traffic data is also reported by modern Sat Nav units (e.g. http://consumerist.com/2011/04/tomtom-sold-speeding-data-to-police-cops-used-it-to-bust-drivers.html ) and as said maybe Google can harvest a bit of traffic data from their Android sets as well.
Whether we like it or not, companies like Google buy and harvest traffic data from misc existing sources, and use this data to propagate their results. Those drivers who knowingly or unknowingly share their traffic data will help those of us who just want to avoid being stuck in traffic.
Options:
(1) Piss off other drivers;
(2) Increase chance of killing people.
Yeah, I'll go for (1), thanks. But please feel free to fight like some neanderthal religious nut against the laws of physics/biology and explain to us why collisions at faster speeds aren't much more likely to cause serious injury or death.
As the link of TFA says; the congestion data is derived from the opt-in data they crowdsource from 'My Location'.
The only way your 'traffic data' could be shared 'unknowingly' is through ignorance.
I have news for you. The black helicopters... they only exist in your mind.
Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.
A few points:
In your scheme they don't need to track who is requesting map tiles in order to get traffic estimates, although they may get slightly more accurate velocity data from doing so (which can be pseudonymous).
Maps and especially turn-by-turn directions has a nasty habit of prefetching and caching large amounts of map. Directions, for example,prefetches your entire predicted route and now, apparently, also prefetches "some" deviations from that path.
Map tiles are large compared to the size of roads, so in any place with a reasonably high road density (e.g., inside a city), your traffic estimates will be useless because of lack of precision.
More accurately:
(1) Piss off other drivers
(2) Line government coffers at gunpoint
Personally I stick to the speed limit, and usually have a line of angry drivers behind me. Not my problem, get mad at your government, not at me. Increase speed limits to the 85th percentile on all non-residential roads.
Why not? I turned it on, and I hope more people do too. In my area the traffic estimates are dead accurate and updated constantly. There's no easier method of aggregating this data accurately than crowd sourcing devices which communicate with you anyway.
By the way, you're welcome.
Actually, what I think the parent is worried about is how Android navigation might provide information to Google
There's no might about it. Android is pretty open to what it's doing and gives you the choice whether or not to participate in location sharing when you first turn on the phone. The option is also settable later in the Location part of System Settings.
Black helicopters? The 1990s called, they want your concept of paranoia back.
Options:
(1) Piss off other drivers;
(2) Increase chance of killing people.
Yeah, I'll go for (1), thanks. But please feel free to fight like some neanderthal religious nut against the laws of physics/biology and explain to us why collisions at faster speeds aren't much more likely to cause serious injury or death.
It's the difference in speed that causes turbulence in traffic that causes the dangerous situations that get people into collisions. Dramatically slower moving vehicles become obstacles that other vehicles try to flow around. Whether they are right or wrong to do it, people see empty space and they will try to fill it up, that's the laws of psychology at work. They might be bad drivers, but they are quite predictable and you can do some simple things to not contribute to their having an accident.
Don't be an asshole driving super fast. Don't be an asshole driving super slow. Let people get over if they turn on their indicator so they don't do something stupid to get to their exit. Don't drive in the far left lane unless you're passing. Stagger your vehicle when possible so that people around you can change lanes unexpectedly. It's not rocket science, mostly basic courtesy.
Or at least, that would be a nice way to hack it. Keep everybody off the route you want to take, by having Google tell everyone else to avoid it. Google reports for your route: Bumper to bumper traffic jams, overturned tractor trailers, oil slicks, zombie attacks, etc.
And you'll have an open road.
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