Systems and methods are described for referencing road strands. Speed data for a set of adjoining road segments is identified. Using at least one of the adjoining road segments, a strand database for is accessed to retrieve a predetermined strand of road segments. An aggregate speed value for the predetermined strand of road segments is calculated based on the speed data for the set of adjoining road segments represented by the predetermined strand of road segments. The aggregate speed value is provided as a representative of traffic on the set of adjoining road segments represented by the predetermined strand of road segments.