China has launched its first multi-city real-time traffic website and mobile phone software to help people access information on real-time traffic conditions, traffic events and street closures.

The website, launched by China TransInfo Technology, gathers information using the GPS sensors installed in taxis and on road sides.

The website also features a real-time Traffic Jam Index with information that describes cities as congested, mildly congested, smooth, or very smooth. This feature is based on the percentage of traffic on the streets in each city.

The mobile phone software will provide the motorists access to real-time traffic conditions on their cell phones.

The service will initially cover five cities, namely Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Wuhan.

Plans are underway to extend the coverage to include more cities.