Google Maps Now Estimates Drive Time At Rush Hour

According to the Google Lat Long Blog, the search engine has added a feature to Google Maps that provides a realistic estimate of drive time in traffic at peak times or when there’s an accident.

After you do a search for directions, you’ll see both an optimal drive time and an outer range.

For example, with this search for Newport Beach to downtown Los Angeles, you’re told in the left-hand column under “Drive:”

43.6 mi – about 52 mins
up to 1 hour 40 mins in traffic

See the second line with the “in traffic” estimate?

It’s not clear how many people take those idealized travel time estimates seriously but this is an effort to be more realistic, which is helpful.