The planner's Traffic layer is a visual overlay for current conditions where the map provider has data. It does not predict your future trip, explain every slowdown, or automatically prove that an alternate route is better.
Turn on the Traffic layer
- Open Layers on the map.
- Select Traffic.
- Zoom to the corridor you want to inspect.
- Switch back to Road, Satellite, Light, or Dark when finished.
The overlay is separate from the route cards. Selecting a visual layer changes how the map is displayed; it does not change the route merely because the layer is visible.
Read color as relative flow
Traffic overlays commonly use green for freer flow, orange for moderate slowing, and red or darker red for heavier delay. Exact display and coverage come from the provider. A colored segment should be interpreted with its length, location, and importance to your route.
Ask four questions before changing routes
- Is the slowdown on my road and direction? Nearby or opposite-direction traffic may be irrelevant.
- How long is the affected segment? A short red queue may cost less than a long detour.
- Does the alternate reconnect before the delay? Some alternatives feed into the same bottleneck.
- Is the alternate suitable? Check road type, closures, tolls, gates, and destination access.
Color does not explain the cause
A slowdown may come from normal volume, a crash, construction, weather, an event, or a temporary closure. Check the route-provider incident details and the relevant road agency or 511 service when the cause affects safety or access.
Current traffic is not future traffic
A green road now may be congested by the time you reach it. For a future trip, use a departure-time tool in a provider that supports historical predictions, then recheck current conditions before leaving. This site's visual layer should not be presented as a future-arrival guarantee.
Examples
| Pattern | Reasonable response |
|---|---|
| Short red segment near a signal | Stay on route unless the delay materially changes the trip |
| Long dark-red corridor with closure report | Check official incident information and a suitable alternate |
| Orange segment near the destination | Add parking and entrance time rather than assuming a route switch fixes it |
| Uncolored rural road | Do not assume there is no traffic; coverage may be limited |
Safety
Inspect the traffic layer before departure or through a passenger. A solo driver should park before zooming, switching layers, or comparing detailed alternatives.
Related guidance
- Compare future departure windows
- Understand a changing arrival estimate
- Compare the site's route cards and steps
Site behavior reviewed July 19, 2026. Traffic coverage and refresh timing vary by provider and location.