a method for processing traffic information includes receiving traffic information including a composite identifier enabling a determination of whether the received traffic information includes composite link information , a composite traffic status indicator revealing traffic status information corresponding to a composite link that includes at least first and second links , and at least first and second link identifiers respectively corresponding to the first and second links that are included within the composite link . the method also includes determining , based on the composite identifier , whether the received traffic information includes composite link information . the method further includes dependent upon whether the composite identifier enables a determination that the received traffic information includes composite link information , identifying the composite link among the received traffic data based on at least the first and second link identifiers , identifying the received composite traffic status indicator as composite traffic status information for the composite link , and enabling perception of an association between the received traffic status information and the composite link .