Being stuck in traffic is almost a way of life if you live in a South African city. But thanks to a new service launched by Cellfind, relief is on the way.

By partnering with Tracker and TrafficNet they have managed to create South Africa’s first “live to cellphone” traffic service. The service, called miTRAFFIC, is a live traffic update service and is available to anyone that subscribes weekly.

“The objective of miTRAFFIC is to provide a service that gives up-to-date information on traffic incidents, allowing motorists to seek alternative routes,” says Niel Barnard, CEO of Cellfind.

miTRAFFIC monitors traffic by collecting and analysing data from two sources- vehicle tracking company Tracker’s SkyTrax technology and TrafficNet, which runs a national traffic incident service. The more than 100 000 vehicles fitted with SkyTrax countrywide provide accurate info on traffic flow. Overlaying this data with traffic information compiled by TrafficNet, Cellfind reckons they have created the most comprehensive picture of traffic flow patterns and incidents currently available in SA.

“With just Tracker’s information alone, we are able to see where there is congestion on the roads and where traffic is flowing freely. However, by overlaying TrafficNet’s information on top of ours we can understand what the reasons for the congestion are,” says Tracker’s Marketing Director, Michael Du Preez.

“miTRAFFIC provides all reported traffic incidents and a traffic “temperature” map for areas that are within a 50km radius of the subscribed location.  miTRAFFIC also provides traffic incidents and temperature maps for ‘Home’ and ‘Work’ locations as registered by the customer and is  sent out at a time that the customer can set,” he adds.

The service is charged at R12 a week. Subscribers will receive 10 traffic updates for their R12. To subscribe customers can either SMS the word REGISTER to 31887 or register online at www.mitraffic.co.za.