A new live traffic website launched by Transport for London (TfL), which identifies traffic hotspots and makes congestion easier to avoid, has experienced its first Monday morning.

By visiting tfl.gov.uk/trafficnews, London road users can now gain a bird's eye view of London's traffic hotspots to see where road works are taking place, where traffic is building up, and find which areas to avoid.

The new service includes access to a network of 170 'jam cams' placed around the capital. In addition, Tfl has created a live Twitter feed that is updated by TfL's Surface Transport Traffic Operations Centre between 6:30 and 21:00 each weekday.

The feeds include information about all of London's major roads with specific feeds about the 14 transport corridors which form the 580km TfL Road Network (TLRN) accessible using hashtags (for example information about the A21 corridor would be accessible by entering #A21London).

Commenting on the launch, Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: "This new service will give motorists and indeed other road users the power to become the eye in the sky and avoid nasty snarl ups.

"Anyone with internet access or a mobile phone will be able to check out the latest situation on their chosen route and make informed journey choices."

Garrett Emmerson, chief operating officer for Surface Transport at TfL, said: "Technology now allows us to put a wealth of information at motorists' fingertips.

"Those who know their route well can now pre-empt any congested areas by checking online before they set out on their journey, or - when safe - take advantage of our @TfLTrafficNews Twitter feed for advance warning of any congestion ahead and then apply their local traffic knowledge to avoid the jams."

Obviously, neither the @TfLTrafficNews Twitter feed nor should any other mobile phone operation be accessed while a driver is in control of a vehicle.