Google Maps Now Lets Users Report Accidents, Speed Camera on Roads

The latest update of Google Maps has been created to help users avoid getting stuck in traffic jam.

Google Maps is adding a slew of features this week.

(Photo: The Quint)

Google Maps has rolled out features to report speed traps and accidents, almost a year after it introduced speed limits in navigation. The features, available only for Android users for now, are the latest addition to the usability of the app.

You’ll see these options on your phones represented via new icon appearing in Maps. It is basically a shortcut for opening up the new reporting feature for speed traps and accidents.

Any accident on the road is represented using a broken truck icon, while speed cameras can be reported by the users.

It’s interesting that Google Maps is finding different ways to help people avoid traffic on the road, and letting people know that they’re headed towards a heavy-traffic route, is a welcome addition.

The accident and speed camera sign, as given below become active when a user starts turn by turn navigation on Google Maps.

You can report a crash or spot the speed camera.(Photo: Google Maps screen grab)

The accident report doesn’t communicate with the emergency database, something that Google could look at tying up with in the near future.

As for the speed cameras, we’re not sure why Google Maps would want to support this option, unless they believe that users should be given the chance to be alerted and let them adhere to the speed limits.

The Plus sign (with new) is the shortcut which takes you to the added features.(Photo: Google Maps screen grab)

Once a user has reported an accident, Google Maps allows other users on that route to clear up the accident icon on the map once the area is clear and accessible, so that other people can start taking the route again.

Let Google Maps know if the area is good for traffic movement.(Photo: Google Maps screen grab)

These are handy features for users, especially plying on Indian roads, where the traffic conditions do get chaotic during peak hours.

You can also use Maps to book auto or cab rides, without switching to the main app. That’s not all, Maps is also supporting two-wheeler riders in the country, offering them a varied traffic status, allowing them to take narrower lanes to avoid getting stick in traffic jams.