Whether you’re hitting the road for a weekend getaway, exploring a new city to find that one food truck, or trying to avoid traffic jams on the way to school, Google Maps and Waze provide the information you need to reach your destination the best way possible. Google Maps introduced even more useful features to keep you safer and better informed while on the road.
Easier incident reporting in Maps
Imagine you are driving and traffic suddenly comes to a stop. To help other road users, Maps makes it easier to report incidents and useful information, such as roadworks, lane closures, obstacles and police presence. These notifications come from the communities of Maps and Waze, and you can even see which app a notification came from. The larger notification buttons are easier to tap, so you can share updates more quickly, such as a closed lane slowing traffic. Other drivers can confirm the incident with a single tap to keep the information up-to-date. This improved way to report incidents in Maps is now rolling out globally on Android, iOS, cars with Google Built-in, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Stress-free navigation to your destination with new guide features in Maps
Navigating to new locations, such as a friend’s large apartment complex, can be tricky if you don’t know where to enter or park. Now Maps automatically shows the building and entrance, along with nearby parking spaces, as you approach your destination. This is especially helpful if you are going to an unfamiliar place in the dark or late at night. This new destination indication in Maps will be rolled out globally on Android, iOS, cars with Google Built-in, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in the coming weeks.
Be alert while driving with new camera alerts in Waze
In some cities, cameras are being added to enforce speed limits or carpool lanes, for example. To help you stay alert and comply with local rules, Waze adds new camera types. These alerts are updated by the Waze community, which uses a combination of real-world information and public data from local authorities. For example, you’ll get an alert if you approach a camera taking pictures for speeding, running a red light, improper use of lanes (such as bus or carpool lanes), not wearing a seat belt or using your phone while driving. These alerts remind you of traffic rules so you can make adjustments as needed. The new camera alerts in Waze are rolling out globally on Android and iOS.
Share real-time traffic information with friends in Waze
Events like parades, concerts and sports games are fun, but can cause traffic congestion. The new traffic-related events feature in Waze gives you more insight into how these events affect traffic. If you’ve recently driven through a busy area or saved nearby places in Waze, you’ll receive a notification as soon as the event begins. You’ll get helpful details such as the cause of the event, any road closures and real-time traffic conditions. And to help your friends and family, you can easily share this information with them so they are better prepared. The new traffic-related event feature in Waze is now rolling out globally on Android and iOS.
Navigate while your screen is locked with Waze
To make navigating easier, Waze users can now receive navigation instructions, such as turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic updates or hazard alerts, while keeping their phone safely locked. This feature is rolling out globally on Waze for Android this month and will be available for iOS this fall.
With these new features and helpful alerts in Google Maps and Waze, you will always stay well informed during all your travels.
