Google Maps uses much more recent traffic data due to COVID-19

Google Maps has had to adjust to life during a pandemic just like the rest of us. 

When the coronavirus outbreak first hit, traffic patterns were immediately and noticeably out of whack. Streets were weirdly empty without commuters, tourists, and people going to and fro. Buses and subways were abandoned in favor of bike rides and walks. Google noted a 50 percent decrease in worldwide traffic since the beginning of 2020, according to a company update Thursday.

While a lot of road activity has resumed in in the months since, it still looks different out there compared to our pre-pandemic lives. Read more...