Google Maps on Android Auto now lets drivers report road issues
Google Maps in Android Auto is becoming more attractive. Users receive an update that introduces the ability to report road disruptions such as accidents, lane closures, or police checks in Maps. This feature appeared in smartphones with Google Maps five years ago.
10:12 AM EDT, September 23, 2024
Android Auto users with the updated Google Maps app are starting to see the option to report road disruptions directly from their cars. This includes lane closures, traffic jams, accidents, police checks, and similar incidents. If this feels familiar, it’s partially true.
However, these same options are now finally available on Android Auto. This is a crucial change because, alongside the competing CarPlay system, it has become a standard in new cars. Therefore, it's hard to imagine users of new cars deliberately using their phones’ navigation instead of the infotainment screen just to access the road disruption reporting feature in Google Maps.
You can add a report with a few touches on the car’s screen. Google analyzes these signals and, after collecting sufficient numbers from various users to confirm the authenticity of the reports, displays the disruptions on the map. This also impacts route planning and estimated arrival times, as the navigation system can then consider additional delays.
As usual, with new Android Auto and Google Maps features, it takes some time for them to be available in all cars. Options are enabled server-side in batches, meaning it may take weeks before the feature appears for everyone. Installing the latest updates—both for Google Maps and Android Auto—can help, but remembering the recent navigation issues affecting some Android users is worth remembering.
