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The simple and creepy reason Google Maps knows when there’s traffic

Published Jan 11th, 2017 1:51PM EST
Google Maps Real-Time Traffic
Image: Wikipedia

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One of the great features of Google Maps is that it will warn you in real-time if there’s any traffic on your route, and suggest alternative options so you don’t get stuck in traffic. If you’ve ever wondered about the secret sauce behind that feature the answer is pretty simple. And as you might expect, it’s also very logical and somewhat creepy.

Every time you use Google Maps and allow it to access your location, the app will also send location data back to its servers. That way, when your location is on a roadway, Google is able to analyze in real-time whether you’re actually moving or if you’re stuck in traffic.

By pooling data from millions of users around the clock, Google is also able to see when and where you can expect heavy traffic.

As the Business Insider video below shows, there are other sources that contribute to Google’s traffic analysis, including crowd-sourced data from Waze — technically, that’s still data that you send to Google — and data from local transportation authorities.

That said, this is actually one Google Maps feature that many people rely on. Switching off location services on your phone is one way to prevent Google from accessing your location. But if everyone did it, then one of the best Google Maps features would be severely crippled, since Google wouldn’t be able to measure and predict traffic in real-time as easily as it does now.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.