Seattle-based traffic information provider INRIX announced today it has reached 260,000 miles of real-time traffic coverage in North America thanks to new algorithms that offer a realistic view of what traffic looks like on secondary roads.

“While other companies treat arterials and city streets just like stretches of uninterrupted highway, we factor in the impact traffic lights, stop signs, curb cuts and other traffic control tools have on traffic speeds to provide a significantly more accurate snapshot of real-time traffic conditions and congestion on these roads,” said Senior Director of Product Management Ken Kranseler.

INRIX’s new SpeedWaves technology calculates profiles of speed distributions per road segment that factor in the impact stop signs and other traffic control devices have on the billions of data points INRIX receives from more than 1.5 million GPS-enabled vehicles and devices in its Smart Driver Network. SpeedWaves compares historical traffic data with real-time data to offer travel time estimates for each segment of the roads covered.

Ford (with their SYNC system) and MapQuest will be the first companies to take advantage of this improved coverage of arterial roads.