Google Maps adds new weather alerts for drivers
Google Maps has recently updated its app and Android Auto with new features to help drivers stay safe by reporting weather-related issues on the road. Similar to how Waze has worked for years, Google Maps allows drivers to report various incidents like accidents or roadblocks. These reports help keep other drivers informed about potential hazards ahead. While these notifications might be a bit distracting for some, they offer valuable safety benefits.
The latest update, as noticed by Android Police, introduces a few new incident reporting options centered around weather conditions. These new categories include:
- Flooded road
- Low visibility
- Unplowed road
These options now appear right after “Stalled vehicle” in the menu, pushing “Police” further down the list. This update hasn’t reached all users yet, but it’s clearly aimed at improving road safety by providing more specific warnings about weather impacts.
This is not the first update to the incident reporting feature; last November, Google Maps changed “Speed trap” to the more general “Police” to avoid any legal issues or misunderstandings. These enhancements to Google Maps show the company’s commitment to making navigation not only about finding the best route but also about ensuring that route is safe under varying weather conditions.