Google Traffic is launched in Egypt

Google Maps’ features in Egypt continue to expand, with Google Traffic finally launching in the country eight years after its initial launch.

The feature provides a colour-coded way on Google Maps of knowing whether a certain road is congested or not.

Green colors indicate there are no traffic delays, orange indicates medium congestion, while red warns road users of slow traffic and delays.

The latest update also provides users with an estimated time of arrival, as well as alternate routes that may take less time. On Twitter, a number of local users posted screenshots of the application, celebrating the feature’s arrival to Egypt. Others, however, warned that Google Traffic may impact local services, such as the widely-used Bey2ollak.

However, with millions of users in Egypt, Bey2ollak may remain ahead of the game, particularly as some users say it has more features that Google’s alternative. A World Bank study recently found that Cairo’s infamous traffic costs Egypt 47 billion Egyptian pounds (USD 6.5 billion) annually and is expected to reach 105 billion pounds (USD 14.6 billion) by 2030.

Source: Egyptian Streets