Google Maps, finally with Aussie traffic

By Derek Fung on 15 September 2009

It's taken a while, but it's finally here: Google Maps now includes real-time Australian traffic info.

Today, Google and Suna announced that live traffic data has finally been incorporated into Google Maps Australia. Updated every few minutes, traffic information is available for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

There's also updates for major roads and freeways heading through or past Wollongong, the NSW Central Coast (namely Gosford and Woy Woy), Geelong and the Sunshine Coast. We're currently waiting to hear back on future availability in Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and other major centres.

Traffic data is accessible via the Google Maps website, as well as the Google Maps app that's supplied on various phones — we've successfully tried it on the Apple iPhone, a Palm Centro and the Nokia 6710 Navigator.

Red is bad, mmmkay?
(Screenshot by CNET Australia)

As with the info that's supplied via Suna's traffic message channel (TMC) service to various GPS sat nav units, the company collects traffic data from various sources. Key amongst these are the cameras, road plates and traffic lights operated by state road agencies.

Google Maps' traffic feature was first made available in a number of US cities in 2007.

Up until now drivers with TMC-equipped GPS devices have been in the dark as to which roads were covered by Suna's service. When reviewing traffic enabled GPS units in the past, we've complained about driving through traffic incidents that have already cleared up, as well as running into traffic jams that weren't yet picked up. Over the coming days we'll be pitting Google Maps' traffic feature against a few traffic enabled sat nav units to see how they compare.

In the comments below, let us know your thoughts on Google Maps' new traffic feature, as well as how it might compare to current traffic-enabled GPS units.

Topics: google maps, google, maps, suna, traffic, sydney, melbourne, brisbane

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Comments (21)

  • roncak commented on 20/09/2009 19:57 Report abuse

    I bought this phone yesterday specifically to geo-tag and navigate. Turns out if you have not purchased from 3, there is NO, repeat NO gps software whatsoever, no geo-tagging, no navigation, NOTHING. The GPS function of the phone is as good as dead.
    Samsung support could not care less: "just buy from the Route66 website mate, $USD179" – thats about $AUD270+ EXTRA to get the Geo-Tagging that the retailer and Samsungs OWN website says is included – THANKS SAMSUNG.
    This is despite the retailer assuring me that navigation and geo-tagging is standard..."See – look on the box, it says GPS navigation right on the side!" B-Friggin-S!
    Last Samsung product EVER for my family. EVER.

  • Ben Ha commented on 19/09/2009 18:48 Report abuse

    Well it's no bloody good if you are in Perth WA - but that was to be expected :(

  • BrissyCrawler commented on 17/09/2009 13:58 Report abuse

    Hohum, Perth isn't missing out on anything. The info never seems to update - "live" traffic info my ****!

  • tester commented on 17/09/2009 09:51 Report abuse

    just tried a few different times and it doesnt change, not accurate enough yet...

  • Slam commented on 16/09/2009 22:00 Report abuse

    So you drive in Sydney traffic in the AM/PM peak. You hear on the radio that there is heavy traffic on your route home? Do you go the other way which you know takes longer? Or do you continue on knowing that as always either the road report is outdated already or the traffic will clear before you get there anyway.

    Another useless gimmick that is worth every cent you pay for it...nothing. lol

  • whatever commented on 16/09/2009 16:30 Report abuse

    Finally? Just returned from the UK - they don't have this on google maps UK. They had street view before Au so why use 'Finally' like it is overdue?
    We certainly have overtaken the poms in the whinging department!

  • mememe commented on 16/09/2009 12:44 Report abuse

    well, ANUS traffic strikes again, same thing looked at google maps this morning on my phone, showing green "fast" traffic, well it was anything but, even by the time I got to work it was still showing as "fast" i think its just as bad as their plug in RDS antennas for my tomtom thumbs down for me.

  • djbsmith commented on 16/09/2009 10:02 Report abuse

    I agree with JasonV - checked Brisbane traffic (Wynnum Rd) this morning and it showed green while I crawled along taking 20mins to go 2km.

  • a guy from perth commented on 16/09/2009 07:50 Report abuse

    Yes we have traffic. Peak hours are worst. we only have one freeway and everyone uses it. It takes 1 hr at best to commute from Joondalup to Perth CBD about 30 km.

    You never use anything above 2nd gear the whole way and it leaves you feeling suicidal.

  • tererai commented on 15/09/2009 23:03 Report abuse

    Hmm quiet impressed, works on N97 as well which is neat :-)

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