Specifically Apple's Maps? Today we went to Raleigh to the NC Museum of Art. After we left, Maps took us home a different way. A LONGER way. There was no traffic at first but the arrival time kept going UP the farther we went. I could not figure out why it would take us on a longer route. And then we drove right into a traffic jam. It was as if I said "Siri, take me to the nearest traffic jam", and voila! She did.

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Astronauts with binoculars

Everyone gets the same information....

We notice that we usually get a different route to and from our destination. These are dumb GPSs without traffic information, and there’s nothing like an exit that’s only in one direction or anything to make this make sense.

Does Apple Maps NOT take traffic into account? Google does. But I think it relies on other people using Google Maps in order to gauge traffic speed.

I imagine Apple Maps initially didn't have the smarts for traffic avoidance, but these days I would be surprised if it didn't.

I always use Waze since it has crowdsourced and highly accurate real time traffic information and bases the route on estimated journey time. If a traffic jam suddenly slows down one route it will instantly alert you to a new faster route. I don't believe any of the other services have such a thing.

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"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan

All have real time traffic. I often see Apple Maps telling me a better route is available, and you have a certain time to click OK to take it. if not, I think it continues on the old route.

I use Apple Maps and Waze just as much, and sometimes Goole Maps.

A few days ago I use the built-in navigation on my Chevy Volt since I needed something different than the usual routine.

Fun times we live in. Electronic wise, not everything else pretty much sucks (healthcare, politics, etc).