For years, Google Maps has been something I rely on to get around unfamiliar areas, and it’s saved me on numerous occasions, even if it’s not perfect. It’s a great tool for researching vacation spots, figuring out how long it’ll take to go somewhere, and what people think about a restaurant. With the introduction of Android Auto, it’s now available every time I hop in my car, so I use it far more than I used it before.
What might surprise you is that I use it even when I know exactly where I’m going, and when I know how long it takes to get there. A lot of people use Google Maps if they don’t know how to get somewhere, but I use it all the time. I know it sounds strange, but there are a few good reasons why you should do this. In many ways, Google Maps feels a bit like social media. No, you don’t post life updates, but community mapping makes it a very worthwhile app to always be using.
- OS
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iOS, Android
- Brand
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Google
- Price
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Free
It’s nice to know what’s on the road ahead
Maybe it’s time to slow down
What stands out the most to me when I use Google Maps is when there’s construction or an accident on a route that’s going to drastically slow me down. While I could know about construction beforehand, there’s no telling when an accident could occur, and if enough people report it, Google Maps will let me know about it and offer an alternative route. Accidents can often take a long time to clear up, so this can end up saving you a ton of time, and it’s only something you’ll know about if you’re using the Google Maps app to track your route.
Another way Google Maps comes in handy is for notifying me of police activity. Sometimes, on long road trips, it’s easy to get carried away and go over the speed limit. On top of that, cops like to hide away in spots on the highway where you’ll only see them once you pass by them. Google Maps can notify you of a police car sitting around like that, and you can slow down to prepare for that. These are two big reasons why I always use Google Maps while I drive. There’s no reason for me not to do this since it takes just a few seconds to select my destination before I start driving.
There are some annoying things, like when the GPS talks over my Spotify songs, but it’s a tradeoff I’m willing to make. On the bright side, podcasts automatically pause when the GPS is talking. This can get pretty annoying if you’re going somewhere with a lot of turns, but if it’s just sticking on a highway for hundreds of miles, it’s a lot easier to deal with. I also like to know what my estimated time of arrival is, and that’s typically only available when you track your destination. A list of locations I previously went to will appear on my Android Auto screen, but I find that they rotate out too often for me to rely on it without setting it as an actual destination.
Google Maps is making strides on Android Auto
Slowly closing the gap
If you’re an Apple CarPlay user, you might be surprised to hear that Google Maps has lagged behind quite a bit. For example, a big update for Google Maps on Android Auto added the speed limit to the screen, all without having to type in a destination. This is something that has been available on Apple CarPlay for years, but I’ve only just now gotten to use it with Android Auto. It’s strange to think of Google and Android not being in sync with each other, but that’s how things have shaken out.
Ultimately, this is an app that I don’t ask a whole lot out of. Of course, I love having the posted speed limit and how fast I’m going available on the screen, but I’ve always been able to tell how fast I’m going by just looking at my car’s speedometer. All I need Google Maps to do is give me directions to where I’m going. It’s always been good at that, and adding things like speed traps and accident reports is just icing on the cake. Obviously, I don’t want to see either of those features disappear overnight, but they aren’t things I was clamoring for, either.
I’m quite happy with how Google Maps works right now, but I’m not going to sit here and say there shouldn’t continue to be updates. I just can’t think of anything I’d add at the moment. It feels very feature-rich for what I need it to be, and as long as it continues to know where I want to go and give me the fastest way to get there, I’m going to be a happy driver.
