Give me ticks, deerflies, horseflies, sunburn and humid temps over traffic any day! Nothing, and I seriously mean nothing, can ruin a trip to the cottage quicker than bumper-to-bumper traffic all the way to the lake. And while traffic on Friday afternoon before a long weekend is probably not entirely beatable, there are some apps to help you finesse your way through the mayhem. Here are a few of our favourites.
Waze
This is a pretty cool app. It’s like the social media tool for monitoring traffic. Basically everyone that has the app signs in, and then whenever they come across problems they log it in as “heavy traffic,” “police visible,” “vehicle stopped on shoulder,” etc. Then these little icons pop up on the map, allowing you to choose which route will work best for you.
Learn more: waze.com
Google Maps
If you’ve already downloaded the Google Maps app (which is no longer pre-packaged with the iPhone), then you have an early jump on the traffic. Simply click the tab on the bottom left and select “Traffic.” This feature will show you where construction zones are and what roads are closed. It isn’t nearly as comprehensive as some of the other apps, but it’ll give you a good idea of what areas to avoid.
Learn more: itunes.apple.com
CP24 Traffic
This comprehensive little app is definitely Toronto-centric, but it will seriously help you get where you’re going—and safely. With audio notifications, you can hook this thing up through your Bluetooth to let you know when and where problems are occurring, meaning you don’t have to be staring at your phone while driving. You can also use the route finder settings for specific routes like “400/401 to Cottage County,” or “Scarborough to Brampton.” The worst thing about this app is the ads.
Learn more: cp24.com
Beat the Traffic
For making your own decisions on what routes to take, this app is pretty good: linked to all the traffic cameras on the major highways of the GTA, you can look at what’s going on ahead. It offers options to program in certain cameras, or certain routes you can customize it to suit your daily commutes and even e-mail you if problems arise. But you’ll have to upgrade this one to get rid of the ads.
Learn more: itunes.apple.com
