A system and method for updating and communicating traffic information to at least one receiving vehicle includes a traffic information center and at least one probe vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, major road sections are represented as links, the center stores and updates a parent map database of links that are associable with a first value of a condition, each probe vehicle is configured to receive a copy of the database either periodically or upon request, determine a second value of the condition, and compare the first and second values to determine a condition discrepancy. Where the discrepancy surpasses a threshold, each probe vehicle is further configured to upload at least the second value to the center, so as to update the parent map database.