Using location data to determine traffic and route information

A system for determining transportation violations of a hazardous material, the system comprising:

• a data processor;
• and
• a database couplable to the data processor, the database adapted to store hazardous material rules corresponding to geographic locations, wherein the data processor is adapted to compare the hazardous material rules to location information provided by mobile devices associated with hazardous materials to determine any violation of the hazardous material rules;
• a memory couplable to the data processor, the memory adapted to store maps and data corresponding to each of the mobile devices along with at least one of configuration data for each of the mobile devices, messages, data communications, traffic information, traffic level indicators, and speed limits.

A system comprising:

• a plurality of mobile devices each adapted to provide location data through a wireless communication network;
• means for receiving the location data through a data network couplable to the wireless communication network and for comparing hazardous material rules for geographic areas with the location data for at least one of the mobile devices which is associated with a hazardous material;
• and
• means for providing driving directions, maps, traffic information, traffic level indicators, and speed limits to each of the mobile devices.

A method of determining a hazardous material transportation violation, the method comprising:

• determining a location of a mobile device;
• retrieving hazardous material rules based on the location;
• determining if the hazardous material rules are violated based on the location and a hazardous material being transported with the mobile device;
• computing an actual velocity of the mobile device based on the location;
• and
• calculating a parameter using the actual velocity and the location, the parameter indicating traffic conditions surrounding the mobile device, wherein the calculating comprises:
• providing a geographic specification to the mobile device;
• retrieving a speed limit of a road segment located within boundaries of the geographic specification;
• calculating a difference between the speed limit and the actual velocity;
• and
• selecting a traffic level indicator representative of the difference.