Google Maps users in Indonesia may now access the real-time Traffic feature, which shows the information on the current traffic situation, in no less than 19 cities namely Surabaya, Medan, Semarang, Palembang, Makassar, Batam, Pekanbaru, Bogor, Bandar Lampung, Padang, Denpasar, Malang, Samarinda, Tasikmalaya, Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Banda Aceh, Pekanbaru, and Jambi. Four cities, which are Jakarta, Depok, South Tangerang, and Bandung, have been the pilot project of this feature since the beginning.
“Our objective is to enable Google Maps becoming a comprehensive and easy-to-use tool for our users in Indonesia, and we hope that the traffic info in these 19 cities will help people finding the fastest and most secure route to their destination,” said Google’s Director Program Management Suren Ruhela in the release we received.
The real time technology embedded in Google Maps covers various information, including traffic jam, accidents, road fixation, and road closing. The solution that it offers encompasses alternative routes as well as the explanation on why the route would be effective. This scheme is run based on Google’s main vision, which is to help users reaching their destination faster and in a more convenient way.
Users only need to activate the option within the “Traffic” layer of Google Maps. The routes will then be presented in different colours, which shows how fast users can reach their destination due to traffic jams. Green means okay, orange refers to light jams, and red means heavy jams.
Further information about the Traffic and other features can be seen at https://support.google.com/maps/answer/3093389?hl=id.
According to Ruhela, the decision of launching the Traffic feature in 19 cities is part of Google’s initiative to make Google Maps even more useful to users in Indonesia. Another part would be the Street View feature available in Jakarta, Bogor, Denpasar, Surabaya, and Komodo National Park, which was launched last year.
