Waze

A colleague alerted me to the fact that there is an live up to date traffic map tool for Android called Waze. The idea is that you have the app running while driving, and GPS turned on. On the map you can see other Waze users in the area. If you get stuck in traffic, the app asks you to report it as moderate, heavy or stand still. The other users will then see your report. You can also report things like petrol prizes, accidents and hazards. If you want an alternative to Google navigation, Waze also has that function.As you drive you collect points, and eventually if you drive and report a lot your figure will be given a crown. I have been using the app for a few weeks now and have been able to avoid traffic jams on a few occasions. I have tried to use the navigation as well, but found it did not always find the address I was looking for.

The app is free download from the Android market

Long traffic queue A1(M)

Evening - Long traffic on A1(M) southbound starting inside Hatfield Tunnel, between junction 3 and 4. Temporary 40 Mph speed limit in place
Weather - Clear 5C

Long traffic queue on North Orbital (A414)

28/02 Evening - Long traffic queue southbound on North Orbital (A414) towards London Colney roundabout
Weather - Clear 8C

Lane closed in approach to Colney Heath Longabout (A414)

North Orbital (A414) - One lain closed in approach to Cloney Heath Longabout 9:30 am until 3:30 pm from tomorrow until fifth of March due to roadworks taking place. Street light are being installed, will be interesting to see if this will help ease the flow of traffic in rush hour or make it worse Source

Long traffic queue on North Orbital (A414)

Morning - long traffic queue northbound on North Orbital (A414) from London Colney roundabout to Colney Heath Longabout
Weather -  Light rain 5C

Slow traffic North Orbital (A14)

Evening - Slow moving traffic southbound on North Orbital (A414) from junction with A(M) to Colney Heath Longabout
Weather - Cloudy 5C

Roadworks on North Orbital (A414)

Tomorrow roadworks will take place on North Orbital (A414). Ground works for a sign is taking place, one lain will be closed. Location: New Park house hotel. Delays likely. Source

Roadworks on London road (A1081)

From tomorrow until Monday 25th roadworks will take place on London Road (A1081) in St Albans. The white lines are being replaced. Location: Carriageway Outside 136-142 And Across Carriageway To 71 London Road. Delays likely. Source

Long traffic queue A1(M)

Evening - long traffic queue southbound between junction 4 and 3. Temporary 60 Mph in place. Saw the log  queue as I came up to the junction,  so turned around and took a back-road to St Albans
Weather - Clear 4C

Fog bank on North Orbital (A414)

Morning - Thick fog bank on North Orbital (A414) just before junction with A1(M), visibility down to just over one meter.  Temperature -1C

Slow traffic A1(M) and North Orbital

Evening - Slow moving traffic southbound on A1(M) between junction 3 and 4, temporary 40 Mph speed limit in place. Also slow southbound on North Orbital (A414) from junction 3 to Colney Heath Longabout, broken down car outer lain.
Weather - clear 8C

Closures on London Tube

If you are going into London this weekend be aware that there is a lot of planned engineering and maintenance work taking place on the Tube. There are closures on Central, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern, Dockland light railway and Overground. To see the details go here

Long traffic queue on Stanborough Road (A6129)

Morning - Long traffic queue southbound on Stanborough Road (A6129) in Welwyn Garden City, queue going all the back to junction with A1(M). 10 minute delay
Weather - Light rain 8C

Long traffic queue St Albans road (A1081)

Morning - Long traffic queue going northbound on St Albans Road (A1081) in St Albans, Also slow moving traffic going southbound on A6129 towards Stanborough Road in Welwyn Garden City
Weather - Snow 1C

Long traffic queue London Road (A1081)

Friday evening 08/02 - Long traffic queue southbound on London road (A1081) in St Albans
Weather - rain 1C

Slow moving traffic on St Albans road (A1081)

Morning - slow moving traffic northbound on St Albans Road (A1081) in St Albans. On A1(M) northbound at junction 3 there where a 50 Mph temporary speed limit.
Weather- Clear 1C

London real time traffic updates

Good to know if you often drive into London, TFL now tweets real time traffic updates. You can get information on all kinds of traffic disruptions and road closures in London. To find out more go to @tfltrafficnews 

Roadworks London road (A1081)

Roadworks 7-9 February, 8 pm until 5 am on London Road (A1081) in St Albans. From No.135 until Cunningham Hill road and Kensington Place until No.149. Road resurfacing taking place. Traffic control using traffic lights will take place. Delays likely. Source

Carriageway Resurfacing London Road (A1081)

Carriageway Resurfacing is to take place at two location on London road (A1081) in St Albans tonight 8:00 pm until 5:00 am tomorrow morning. Works location: No.135 To Cunningham Hill Road and Kensington Place To No.149. Traffic control using traffic lights to take place. Delays likely. Source

Long traffic queue Bridge Road (B195)

Morning - Long traffic queue on Bridge Road (B195) towards Bessemer Road in Welwyn Garden City. Delays: 10 Minutes
Weather: Cloudy 7C

Long traffic queue A1(M) J4

Morning - Long traffic queue northbound on A1(M) at junction 4 for exit slip, queue going half way back to Hatfield Tunnel
Weather - Rain 4C

Long traffic queue Bessemer Road (A1000)

Morning - long traffic queue northbound on Bessemer Road (A1000) in Welwyn Garden City
Weather - Cloudy 9C

Long traffic queue A1(M) J4

Morning - Long traffic queue northbound on A1(M) before junction 4 exit, queue going all the way back to the Hatfield Tunnel. Temporary 40 Mph in place. One broken down car just after the tunnel.
Weather - Sunny 2C

Roadworks closing one lane on North Orbital (A414)

Inner lain will be closed tomorrow from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on North Orbital (A414), outside Napsbury,  due to barrier repairs taking place. Delays likely. Source

Long traffic queue North Orbital

Morning - Long traffic queue northbound from London Road (A1081) until London Colney roundabout. From the roundabout, solid queue northbound on North Orbital (A414) until Colney Heath longabout. There where two broken down cars in outer lain on North Orbital blocking traffic. Delays of 30 minutes
Weather - Foggy -2C

Snow

Evening - snow had been falling since 9 am. Main roads had been gritted, but many smaller roads where slippery.
Weather - Snow -2

Long traffic queues going into Welwyn Garden City

Morning - Long traffic queues going into Welwyn Garden City from south side. Traffic got to a complete standstill at Stanborough Road (A1000) just before roundabout. After a few minutes there was enough gap, so I could get on Osborn way toward the Howard Center.
Weather - Fog -2C

Long traffic queue St Albans road (A1081)

Morning - Long traffic queue northbound on St Albans Road (A1081) towards London Colney roundabout. Most of snow that fell yesterday has melted away
Weather - Cloudy 2C

This year's first snow

Morning - Some snow had landed during the night, but it caused little problem since roads had been salted. I did see one crash on London road (A1081), it looked like the car had driven directly into a lamp post.
Weather - Light snow -1C

Various closures on A1(M) J3 to J4 due to roadworks

• Junction 3 northbound exit slip closed tonight from 10 pm until 5 am tomorrow
• Junction 3 southbound exit slip closed tomorrow from 11 pm until 5 am on Saturday
• Junction 4 northbound exit slip closed Saturday from 10 pm, until 5 am on Sunday
• Junction 2 -4 southbound expect delays up to 10 minutes due to roadworks closing one lane, 10 pm until 5 am from 16 until 18 of January

Link 

Long traffic queue northbound on North Orbital

Morning - Second morning of long traffic queue northbound on North Orbital (A414) towards  Colney Heath longabout.
Weather - Light fog 3C

Roadworks in your area

Tip:

Found this really handy tool/website for knowing about potential driving delays due to roadworks in the UK. Site is just a big map, but you can zoom in or search for an area of the map of interest. Red alert means delays likely, yellow means delays possible while green means delays unlikely. You can also set up email warnings for area you specify, and get current live traffic updates. Very useful http://roadworks.org/

   

Long traffic queue A414 Northbound

Morning - Long traffic queue northbound on North Orbital (A414) towards  Colney Heath longabout.
Weather - Cloudy 7C

A1(M) J4 southbound acces closed

Highway Agency - A1(M) southbound entry slip road will be closed from 10 pm 9th of January until 5 am 10th of January due to roadworks Link

Roadworks A1(M) southbound between J4 - J6

Highway Agency - Tomorrow and Saturday expect delays up to 15 minutes A1(M) southbound between junction 4 and 6 at peak times, 11 pm to 5 am, due to roadworks closing two lanes Link