Google has made its primary Maps app a bit more like lesser-used Waze.
Users of navigation app Waze, which is found by Google, may find this feature familiar. Waze has long had the ability for users to see and report traffic obstacles and police.
Google, it appears, has simply ported that functionality over to its more-popular Google Maps platform on iOS. (Android users already had access to this feature on Google Maps.)
It does differ in a few key areas. The Google Maps report function doesn’t allow users to report police or traffic cameras like Waze. Google Maps users are also unable to add specific comments about the hazards or police presence.
Is this a good thing?
Is this feature ethical or safe? That’s really up to you to decide.
Law enforcement officials are obviously not a fan of the feature, claiming that they’ll reduce public safety by letting drunk drivers circumvent sobriety checks or general police presence.
In fact, the New York Police Department penned a letter to Google back in February asking the company to take down the feature on Waze.
Google, for its part, cites free speech and privacy as reasons for the feature’s continued existence.
In a statement, it also said that safety is a “top priority” for the feature and that it believes revealing speed traps to users may “allow them to be more careful and make safer decisions when they’re on the road.”
How to use the new Speed Traps feature on your iPhone
The new feature lets you see and report “driving incidents” on your route.
The new reporting functionality is extremely simple to use — just like on Waze.
To see reports, all you need to do is fire up Google Maps, input a destination and start driving. If other users have submitted a report, you should see it on your route.
Submitting a report yourself is just as easy. Just tap the small Report icon on the right side of the screen.
You’ll be brought to a new pane where you can submit reports of the following driving incidents:
Crashes
Speed traps
Slowdowns
Construction
Lane closure
Disabled vehicle
Object on road
Apple versus Google
With Apple striving to have Apple Maps catch up to Google, a similar report function may be on the way.
Apple Maps has long had a poor reputation. But the company has worked hard to improve Apple Maps over the past couple of years. Part of that has been introducing new features that have already been implemented in Google Maps, such as the “Look Around” function in iOS 13.
Despite that, Google Maps is still the most popular navigation platform with nearly 67 percent of the market share back in 2018.
Because of that, it may only be a matter of time before Apple debuts its own report feature on iOS. That is, of course, based on whether it’s willing to deal with the controversy of it.
Mike is a freelance journalist from San Diego, California.
While he primarily covers Apple and consumer technology, he has past experience writing about public safety, local government, and education for a variety of publications.
He’s worn quite a few hats in the journalism field, including writer, editor, and news designer.
Are we sure that the option to “add” an event/incident/tag a location for a speed trap ? I am currently using an iphone xr with google maps. The fourth icon in the upper right of your screen shot is missing, the talking bubble with the plus sign.
Are we sure that the option to “add” an event/incident/tag a location for a speed trap ? I am currently using an iphone xr with google maps. The fourth icon in the upper right of your screen shot is missing, the talking bubble with the plus sign.