Google Maps adds live traffic information for 13 more countries

INTERNET SEARCH GIANT Google has announced live traffic coverage in 13 additional countries for its Google Maps application.

The traffic layer of Google Maps, Google Maps for mobile and Google Maps Navigation will show colour coded traffic information for your local position. In Navigation, the application will be able to guide you to your destination and avoid heavy traffic.

Google said, "Today we're announcing new coverage in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Switzerland."

The information includes coverage of all motorways and large roads in major cities. In the UK users will benefit from broader and more detailed coverage that includes smaller streets.

Information for the traffic layer is updated regularly to show information for traffic events that happened from the previous five to ten minutes. A 'change' link in the traffic legend will give you information about typical traffic conditions for a specific time or day of the week.

The live traffic feature on Google Maps was first introduced in 2008. Navigation is still in Beta and available on the Android Market, which Google recently announced it has revamped. µ