Google Maps adds traffic data from your cell phone

by Tom Krazit

Traffic on the Bay Bridge (right, with the exclamation point) was light Tuesday morning in San Francisco, but side streets were backing up, as shown by Google Maps' new traffic feature.

Say goodbye to your favorite shortcuts.
Google Maps is adding traffic data for side streets this week, in addition to the data it already offers up for major highways. Major "arterial" roads, such as state highways or prominent boulevards in cities, will now have their own color-coded traffic information in Google Maps, giving drivers the option of selecting an alternate route based on current traffic conditions.

So how is Google expanding its traffic reports to side streets? If you're using Google Maps on your smartphone (with the notable exception of the iPhone, which doesn't support the feature, according to Google) you're automatically sending speed data back to Google wherever you go.

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(Credit: Screenshot by Tom Krazit/CNET)