Toyota introduces online map showing real-time traffic info and road closures in Japan

TOKYO: Toyota is offering a free public service through an online map that informs motorists of any events on a planned route that could delay the trip.

Road closures, road sign icons, and more are also displayed in real-time. The constantly updated map is accessible from a desktop computer, a smartphone or other mobile devices.

Users can check data from the past 1, 3, 6, or 24 hours, and narrow searches down to include, for example, areas of heavy traffic, helpful in a variety of situations from daily route planning to disaster relief.

In the event of a natural disaster, the affected area(s) will be the focal point of the map. At other times, the map will default to the Kanto region.

Data is real-time, and based on T-Connect/G-Book telematics service information from communications module-equipped car navigation systems in Toyota-made vehicles.

The service comes as a wide swathe of northeastern Japan was rocked by an earthquake on Sunday.

Reuters reported that the 7.3 magnitude quake struck shortly before midnight Saturday and cracked walls, shattered windows and set off a landslide in Fukushima, the area closest to the epicentre.

More than 100 people were injured and trains halted.

The quake revived memories of the 2001 Fukushima quake that set off a tsunami nearly 10 years ago.