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On Google Maps, traffic colors describe road conditions: green means no traffic delays, orange means a medium amount of traffic, and red means delays, with darker red indicating slower traffic. Incident icons mark events such as crashes or construction, while a dotted red line marks a road closure. Gray or blue lines may show your route rather than traffic speed.

What do the colors on Google Maps traffic maps mean?

Google describes its traffic colors as a way to show the speed of traffic on a road. The color meanings are qualitative; Google does not publish specific speed cutoffs in mph or km/h for each color.

Map color Meaning
Green No traffic delays.
Orange A medium amount of traffic.
Red Traffic delays.
Darker red Slower traffic than the lighter red traffic indication; Google does not specify a numeric threshold.

The official legend is on Google Maps Help for desktop.

What do the symbols and dotted red line mean?

Incident icons

Icons identify reported events, not another level of the traffic color scale. Google lists crashes, construction, road closures, and other incidents. Click or tap an icon to see details about the event, as described in Google’s iOS Maps Help.

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#1 Best Overall
Garmin Drive™ 53 GPS Navigator
  • Bright, high-resolution 5” glass capacitive touchscreen display lets you easily view your route
  • Get more situational awareness with alerts for school zones, speed changes, sharp curves and more
  • View food, fuel and rest areas along your active route, and see upcoming cities and milestones
  • View Tripadvisor traveler ratings for top-rated restaurants, hotels and attractions to help you make the most of road trips
  • Directory of U.S. national parks simplifies navigation to entrances, visitor centers and landmarks within the parks

Dotted red line

A dotted red line marks the closed section of a road. This differs from a solid red traffic line, which indicates delays rather than identifying the closure boundary.

Why are some roads gray or blue?

Gray and blue lines can represent a selected route. They are route colors, not part of the green-orange-red traffic scale, so a blue or gray route line does not by itself indicate traffic speed.

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Garmin DriveSmart 76, 7-inch Car GPS Navigator with Bright, Crisp High-Resolution Maps and Garmin Voice Assist
  • 7” high-resolution navigator includes map updates of North America .Special Feature:Easy-To-Read Display; Voice Assist; Hands-Free Calling; Live Traffic and Weather; Traffic Cams and Parking; Smart Notifications,Driver Alerts; Tripadvisor; National Parks Directory; Find Places by Name; Garmin Real Directions Feature.
  • Hands-free calling when paired with your compatible smartphone with BLUETOOTH technology and convenient Garmin voice assist lets you ask for directions to places you want to go
  • Road trip–ready features include the HISTORY database of notable sites, a U.S. national parks directory, Tripadvisor traveler ratings and millions of Foursquare POIs
  • Driver alerts for things such as school zones, sharp curves and speed changes help encourage safer driving and increase situational awareness
  • Access live traffic, fuel prices, parking, weather and smart notifications when you pair this navigator with your compatible smartphone running the Garmin Drive app
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How to turn on the traffic layer

  1. On a computer: Open Google Maps, select Layers, choose More, then select Traffic.
  2. In the Android or iOS app: Tap Layers, then select Traffic under map details.

Labels and exact menu wording can vary by platform and may change. Traffic information is not available everywhere, so the layer may not show conditions for every location.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Garmin Drive™ 53 GPS Navigator
Garmin Drive™ 53 GPS Navigator
Includes detailed map updates of the North America
$144.00
SaleBestseller No. 2
Garmin DriveSmart 76, 7-inch Car GPS Navigator with Bright, Crisp High-Resolution Maps and Garmin Voice Assist
Garmin DriveSmart 76, 7-inch Car GPS Navigator with Bright, Crisp High-Resolution Maps and Garmin Voice Assist
Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity allows easy map and software updates without a computer
$265.57
SaleBestseller No. 3
Garmin DriveSmart 86, 8-inch Car GPS Navigator with Bright, Crisp High-Resolution Maps and Garmin Voice Assist
Garmin DriveSmart 86, 8-inch Car GPS Navigator with Bright, Crisp High-Resolution Maps and Garmin Voice Assist
Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity allows easy map and software updates without a computer
$290.60
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9" Wireless Apple Carplay Screen for Car with OTA Update, Backup Camera
  • CarPlay and Android Auto: This plug-in device connects to your phone via Bluetooth and WiFi. To use CarPlay, connect an iPhone; to use Android Auto, connect an Android phone. Simply connect it to your smartphone and access map navigation, calling, email, notifications, music, and more.
  • Online Maps and Real-Time GPS Navigation with Voice Control: When connected to a smartphone, the portable Apple CarPlay display delivers precise real-time positioning and zero-delay GPS navigation. Supports real-time navigation via apps like Google Maps and Waze (non-preinstalled apps require phone connection). Equipped with the latest voice control technology, it enables map navigation, calls, emails, notifications, music, and more through Siri/Google Assistant.
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  • Night Vision Backup Camera: A waterproof rear-view camera with night vision capabilities that connects to your in-car display. The backup camera accurately and clearly records your entire driving journey, providing you with comprehensive safety protection. The rear-view camera cable works in sync with your backup lights, making installation extremely convenient.
  • Phone Mirroring Connection and Four Audio Outputs: This 9-inch CarPlay screen supports mirroring for both iOS and Android phones. The Q9S double-DIN car stereo integrates CarPlay functionality while supporting Bluetooth audio, built-in speakers, FM radio, and an AUX port. Enjoy clear, stable music even in noisy environments. Connecting your phone via Bluetooth to the car's Bluetooth system for audio playback through the car speakers is the optimal choice.
Rank #3
Sale
Garmin DriveSmart 86, 8-inch Car GPS Navigator with Bright, Crisp High-Resolution Maps and Garmin Voice Assist
  • 8” navigator with high-resolution, dual-orientation display and map updates of North America .Special Feature:Large Display; Voice Assist; Hands-Free Calling; Live Traffic and Weather; Traffic Cams and Parking; Smart Notifications,Driver Alerts; Tripadvisor; National Parks Directory; Find Places by Name; Garmin Real Directions Feature.
  • Hands-free calling when paired with your compatible smartphone with BLUETOOTH technology and convenient Garmin voice assist lets you ask for directions to places you want to go
  • Road trip–ready features include the HISTORY database of notable sites, a U.S. national parks directory, Tripadvisor traveler ratings and millions of Foursquare POIs
  • Driver alerts for things such as school zones, sharp curves and speed changes help encourage safer driving and increase situational awareness
  • Access live traffic, fuel prices, weather, parking and smart notifications when you pair this navigator with your compatible smartphone running the Garmin Drive app

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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