How to avoid traffic in Alabama

As a daily commuter, I know the frustration of figuring out the best route to take during rush hour. Traffic can be unpredictable, and it's often difficult to know which streets will be the most congested. In the past, I've relied on a combination of traffic apps and good old-fashioned guesswork to make my way through the city. But recently, I've discovered a way to get a more accurate picture of the traffic situation in real-time: using iOS Shortcuts to display snapshots from live traffic cameras.

For those unfamiliar, iOS Shortcuts is a powerful tool that lets you automate various tasks on your iPhone or iPad. One of the things you can do with Shortcuts is display images from a specific URL. This means that if you have access to a series of URLs that display live traffic camera feeds, you can use Shortcuts to create a custom workflow that shows you the current traffic conditions on your route.

To get started, you'll need to find a source of live traffic camera feeds. I use ALGOTraffic by ALDOT and ALEA. Many cities have traffic cameras that are publicly available, either through a government website or a third-party traffic app. Once you have a list of URLs, you can use Shortcuts to create a workflow that automatically opens each URL in turn and displays the image on your screen.

For step-by-step instructions for creating an iOS Shortcut Automation to display Alabama traffic cams throughout your commute, check out my write-up on my Projects page here.

Once you've created your shortcut, you can test it out by running it with the tap of a button. Your iPhone or iPad will automatically open each URL in turn and display the corresponding traffic camera feed. This will give you a real-time look at the traffic situation on your route, allowing you to make more informed decisions about which streets to take.

In addition to using Shortcuts to display traffic camera feeds, you can also use the app to automate other tasks related to your commute. For example, you could create a shortcut that automatically opens your favorite navigation app and sets a destination based on your current location. Or, you could create a shortcut that sends a pre-written message to a designated contact, letting them know you're on your way and how long it will take you to get there.

Overall, iOS Shortcuts is a versatile tool that can help make your daily commute a little bit easier. Whether you're looking for a better way to navigate through traffic or want to automate some of the tasks associated with your daily drive, Shortcuts has you covered. Try using it to display live traffic camera feeds and see how it can improve your daily routine.