Filipinos are not new to the daily hassle of traffic. It’s just a part of the day that we have to account for so we don’t arrive late to school or work. Despite this, daily commutes still take away much of our time.
Davao is the city with the worst traffic in the country, with commuters spending anywhere from 107 to 136 hours in traffic every year according to the 2024 TomTom traffic index—which is why Davaoeños sought a solution to this problem.
From the makers of the Davao Commuters Guide comes DavaoTraffic.com—an app that uses real-time traffic data, powered by community-driven participation. The website and app uses information from OpenStreetMap and Mapbox, where each map service collects traffic info from different sources like GPS data, partner apps, and public reports. The information is then translated to identify areas with light (green), moderate (yellow), or heavy traffic (red). The initiative aims to enhance road navigation efficiency, reduce travel time through decision-making strategies, and improve the overall commuter experience.
Users can visit the website or app and click “Share Traffic Update,” where they can report what type of traffic they are experiencing. They can also include the specific area, intersection, or blockage they are encountering, with an option to include a comment to provide specific details about road incidents.
For quick and easy incident reports, users can contribute by getting the information out and logging what type of incident has occurred such as “collision”, “stalled vehicle”, “road blockage”, etc.
Its helpful features and community-centered approach led to local residents starting discourse on whether DavaoTraffic.com is up to par with live updates by Google Maps or other navigation sites.
“It’s sort of like Waze but more localized, and there is a live chat feature,” shared a Davao commuter in the comments of a Facebook post about the app.
With the intention to help residents plan out their routes as optimally as possible, DavaoTraffic.com promises to educate others with real-time traffic, accurate navigation, and user-generated updates.
What do you think about this app, Davaoeños? Let us know in the comments below!