If you use Apple Maps to get to work or university, or while traveling, you have probably noticed the different colors that appear on the route suggested by the map. One of these signs is a red line, which usually does not mean good news because it indicates heavy traffic congestion on the road. Apple Maps uses a set of colors to display the state of traffic so that drivers can know about the condition of the road before or during their journey.

Red doesn’t mean one thing
 

Apple Maps uses more than one color to indicate congestion. The yellow color indicates a slowdown in traffic, while light red indicates intermittent traffic that requires frequent stopping and starting.

Dark red, which tends toward burgundy, means the road is experiencing severe congestion with almost completely stopped traffic. Therefore, seeing a red line on the route you have chosen means you may face significant delays in reaching your destination.

How do you know about the condition of the road before you move?

You don’t need to wait until you reach the congested area to find out what is happening. You can open Apple Maps and select the route you want to use, then press the button in the top right corner of the screen, followed by choosing Driving or Satellite, and then pressing the X sign. This way, you can view a map of the road and learn about congestion, accidents, and potential obstacles before starting.

Apple Maps also shows accidents and road works

The information that appears on the map is not limited to traffic lights, Apple Maps can also show signs for accidents and dangers on the road such as traffic jams, speed traps, maintenance work, and some roads closed. Users themselves can report an accident or danger on the road through Siri by saying phrases like: "Report an accident" or: "There's something in the road". This way, other drivers' reports can help improve the information that appears on the map.

How to avoid the red route?

If you find that the main route is busy, Apple Maps usually offers alternative routes with different expected arrival times for each road. You can also set your driving preferences such as avoiding highways. To activate this on iPhone, go to: Settings > Maps > Driving and then enable the Highways option under Avoid.

Avoiding highways may increase distance or travel time, but it could be a better option than being stuck in heavy traffic during rush hour. You can also choose to avoid toll roads if that suits your route.

Does Apple Maps always choose the best route?
 

Not necessarily, while the app does try to select the best route based on traffic and estimated arrival time, it may not always have the most up-to-date information about road work or sudden changes in traffic. Map apps also rely on various data sources, so there might be local conditions that don’t immediately appear on the map. For this reason, it can be helpful to pay attention to suggestions from local drivers if someone knows a better alternative route.