Avoid Traffic During 405 Freeway Closure with Tips from Traffic Experts at TomTom

CONCORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As Los Angeles drivers prepare for the expected impact of the 405 freeway closure, heralded as “Carmageddon II,” TomTom is sharing tips and recommendations for L.A.-area motorists to better navigate around the city this weekend, September 28 - 30.

“This enables our customer to conduct highly customized analyses that could ultimately lead to better management of a situation like the bridge demolition work in LA.”

According to TomTom’s database of car-centric speed and travel time data, the citywide campaign encouraging drivers to stay local and to avoid cross-town travel was successful during “Carmageddon I,” which occurred on July 16 and 17, 2011. TomTom’s historical database confirms that the number of traffic jams on the Westside of Los Angeles were minimal between the evening of Friday, July 15 through Sunday, July 17. In fact, most drivers were off or away from the 405 freeway as much as four hours before the freeway was closed.

“According to our research, Los Angeles is consistently among the top ranking cities with the worst traffic conditions in North America,” said Nick Cohn, head of congestion research for TomTom. “With such challenging conditions present on a normal day, we strongly advise Angelenos to, once again, cooperate with authorities and stay close to home this weekend in anticipation of the 405 closure.”

Cohn also offers the following tips for Los Angeles motorists this weekend:

Use a navigation solution with real-time traffic updates, such as TomTom HD Traffic. TomTom HD Traffic, available on the TomTom Navigation app for iPhone/iPad, and its GO LIVE navigation devices, provides regular, real-time traffic updates for both major highways and secondary roadways
Check live traffic conditions online before heading out. You can access TomTom’s real-time information for free on its website: http://www.tomtom.com/livetraffic
Update your device using your personal computer on Friday evening. This update will download a free MapShare* patch that will automatically reroute you away from the 405 freeway this weekend

In addition to solutions for drivers on-the-road, TomTom’s database is also available for traffic management agencies and government departments of transportation. The database helps users navigate potential traffic challenges, now and in the future by analyzing traffic trends using more than six trillion anonymous data points.

“TomTom’s rich historical data provides detailed speed and travel time data for any time of day and day of week,” added Cohn. “This enables our customer to conduct highly customized analyses that could ultimately lead to better management of a situation like the bridge demolition work in LA.”

Traffic management agencies can also get access to real-time traffic information made available through TomTom HD Traffic.

Notes to Editor

The TomTom Navigation app for iPhone/iPad is available from September 26 – 30 at 25% off ($39.99). Additionally, all App users can get access to TomTom HD Traffic subscription for as low as $1.99.

*Map Share technology allows you to make changes to the map on your device or report map changes online. Many of the changes made on your device instantly improve your routing and they can also be shared with the Map Share community of 21 million.

About TomTom

Founded in 1991, TomTom (AEX:TOM2) is the world’s leading supplier of in-car location and navigation products and services focused on providing all drivers with the world’s best navigation experience. Headquartered in Amsterdam, TomTom has 3,500 employees and sells its products in over 40 countries.

Our products include portable navigation devices, in-dash infotainment systems, fleet management solutions, maps and real-time services, including the award winning TomTom HD Traffic.

For the world’s most up-to-date route planner, including live traffic information, go to www.tomtom.com/livetraffic. For further information, please visit www.tomtom.com.