best traffic app?

[xSauronx]

ok, i dont travel a whole lot, so i dont run into many situations where i need/care about traffic updates. the thing is....twice last weekend i got held up in traffic for an extended period, where if i had known what was coming i could have *easily* taken an early exit and skipped the whole waiting-in-line crap.

so whats a good, crowdsourced or or regionally sourced traffic app? googling around suggests waze, which i havent heard of or used. any other suggestions?is there something that can run in the background and just pop up or make a notification when im near something? im also reading that google navigation should reroute me, but i dont use that generally if i know where i am already. is that good enough to have possibly saved me?

 

[shortylickens]

Never found a great one. The one built in to Google Maps is the best of the bunch.
But it still stinks. You always find out about jams 10 minutes after you're in them.

Best bet it to go online before you leave the house and get a feel for daily traffic patterns.
Then assume it will be the same tomorrow.

 

[shortylickens]

LUCKY DOG!
Todays free app is what you need.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TC1TLO

 

[xSauronx]

LUCKY DOG!
Todays free app is what you need.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TC1TLO

yeah, i saw that, now to remember i have it next time i go for a trip

 

[WelshBloke]

Never found a great one. The one built in to Google Maps is the best of the bunch.
But it still stinks. You always find out about jams 10 minutes after you're in them.

Best bet it to go online before you leave the house and get a feel for daily traffic patterns.
Then assume it will be the same tomorrow.

Shortys right, none of them give decent information. I think most of them get their data from the same sources anyway.

I just use the traffic reports on the radio

 

[lothar]

LUCKY DOG!
Todays free app is what you need.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TC1TLO

Pretty bad reviews of that product.

 

[sm625]

I wish there was an app that let everyone send the location of a cop car when they see one sitting on the side of the road. Trouble is it is only useful if at least 5% of motorists actually use it. For a good traffic app, it would take about 1% participation. Every android and iphone should have a "driver's panel" with a bunch of buttons you can tap. I just listed 2 buttons... traffic jam and cop car. I'm sure there are others.

 

[vshah]

i think google maps is pretty good. every time I've followed Google maps navigation's random directions, I've never hit traffic. sometimes when I say to myself "screw that, that will take forever," I've gotten stuck in a nasty jam.

 

[shortylickens]

I wish there was an app that let everyone send the location of a cop car when they see one sitting on the side of the road. Trouble is it is only useful if at least 5% of motorists actually use it. For a good traffic app, it would take about 1% participation. Every android and iphone should have a "driver's panel" with a bunch of buttons you can tap. I just listed 2 buttons... traffic jam and cop car. I'm sure there are others.

Just follow the fucking law.

 

[vshah]

I wish there was an app that let everyone send the location of a cop car when they see one sitting on the side of the road. Trouble is it is only useful if at least 5% of motorists actually use it. For a good traffic app, it would take about 1% participation. Every android and iphone should have a "driver's panel" with a bunch of buttons you can tap. I just listed 2 buttons... traffic jam and cop car. I'm sure there are others.

waze and/or trapster for the cops.


anyone using google maps nav is already automatically contributing to google's traffic data.

 

[gizbug]

waze by far

 

[RockinZ28]

Never found a great one. The one built in to Google Maps is the best of the bunch.
But it still stinks. You always find out about jams 10 minutes after you're in them.

Best bet it to go online before you leave the house and get a feel for daily traffic patterns.
Then assume it will be the same tomorrow.

Sigalert.com mobile view is what I use. Just have it on my quick tabs for Dolphin browser. Almost never get surprised by traffic. Think Google maps gets its info from here, they are almost identical, but sigalert is 10-15 minutes ahead of Google maps in reporting traffic. In Los Angeles area anyway. Saw this gem yesterday when checking the traffic after getting called in for work.

4:21 PM: .k/2508d0903.d/small Tkpk Overturned in Car Pool Lane-Possible Abandoned Vehicle
4:22 PM: Message/Item Delivered Pico So
4:22 PM: Please See Line 23, 24 //advs LASO Update--Thanks
4:23 PM: Car Pool and #1 Lane Blked
4:24 PM: Please Roll 11185 Flatbed Tow Truck ETA--Thanks
4:25 PM: Message/Item Delivered Pico LASO with Info Line 33
4:25 PM: Driver Feld Scene-Reporting Party Followed Him to an Address 6025 Redman-Male Wearing Camo Tshirt & Pants Mha Dk Hair & Scrubby Beard Approx 30 S-40 S
4:26 PM: Message/Item Delivered Roads ETA 15-20 with Fltbd
4:26 PM: CHP Unit on Scene
4:27 PM: 83-500 Advise He is Being Waved Down Redman X Whittier