Methodology
Traffic score methodology
The 1-5 score is a planning signal. It summarizes how disruptive a day is likely to feel based on scheduled events, road impacts, timing, geography, and known recurring Toronto traffic patterns.
What the score means
- 0: no known major disruption in the calendar.
- 1-2: minor congestion or localized impacts.
- 3-4: major event, road, or construction pressure that can change route choice.
- 5: severe day where multiple high-impact factors overlap or a major closure affects core travel.
Signals considered
The calendar weighs venue capacity, venue location, event timing, road closures, construction windows, full closures, lane reductions, affected areas, transit crowding signals, and whether disruptions overlap in the same part of the city.
A single large event can matter. Several medium events in the same area can matter more. A road closure near a major venue can matter more than either item would on its own.
What the score cannot guarantee
The score is not a live speed estimate and does not predict every collision, police response, weather change, protest, or transit incident. It is based on known and source-backed conditions at the time the calendar was generated.
For turn-by-turn routing, use a live navigation app before leaving. Use 416 Traffic to decide whether the trip plan itself needs to change.