For the final 12 months testing out EVs, I’ve leaned on CarPlay and Android Auto to assist information me whereas driving. Relying on what cellphone I’m reviewing any given week, I would flip flop between using Google Maps and Apple Maps, on account of how they combine higher with their respective car platforms.
Nonetheless, that every one modified firstly of the 12 months when I downloaded the newest Google Maps update on my cellphone. That’s as a result of it lastly introduced Waze integration instantly into Google Maps, which is the one cause why I’ve stopped using Apple Maps.
I’m particularly referring to how this Waze integration with Google Maps now exhibits and tells me at any time when I come throughout incidents on my routes, similar to pace traps, accidents, building, lane closures, and extra. There’s all the time been this ongoing battle I’ve had with Google Maps vs. Apple Maps, however this function lastly settles this debate. Right here’s why.
Staying knowledgeable about what’s on the highway
So why must you use Google Maps over Apple Maps? Frankly, it’s due to how this new Waze integration informs you about pace traps. Though this has been a function lengthy established with the Waze app, it’s now a local function inside Google Maps — and I can’t inform you the way it’s helped me out throughout my morning commutes.
Whereas it could seem to be such a function squarely goals to learn fixed rushing offenders, it makes driving as an entire safer as a result of the notifications about these pace traps trigger motorists to drive extra cautiously. They’re now now not driving 10 or 15 miles per hour above the pace restrict, however at way more relaxed speeds. These are the type of speeds you’d need in excessive areas of congestion throughout peak occasions.
Clearly, these alerts might avoid wasting drivers from being ticketed for rushing, however there’s extra to it than simply avoiding a possible hefty effective. I personally recognize how I can anticipate pace traps forward of time, as an alternative of being blindsided when I see an unmarked car in the median and slam on my brakes.
It’s simply safer realizing what’s forward of you. And it’s not simply avoiding pace traps — this function may even notify me if there’s a stalled car forward, if I’m getting into a building zone, or if there’s an accident.
That stated, Apple Maps has its benefits over Google Maps, like the way it does a greater job of displaying clearly what lane to take when there are a number of ones. However regardless of this, Apple Maps has but to inform me about upcoming pace traps or highway hazards — most likely as a result of customers aren’t reporting them as often as they do with Waze.
Create new incident studies
Not solely will Google Maps present and inform you about incidents whilst you’re driving, however you even have the power to create new incident studies as properly — which might, in flip, notify different drivers. This makes for a safer driving expertise for everybody as a result of this new report would then trickle all the way down to different drivers on the identical route.
One evening as I was driving dwelling actually late, I practically misplaced management of the car as I tried to keep away from what gave the impression to be the entrance bumper from some car that was in the center of my lane. Whereas I managed to keep away from it, I shortly created a brand new incident in order that different drivers might anticipate the obstruction.
In fact, there are nonetheless occasions when Google Maps is unsuitable about these incident studies, which is why I’m all the time being requested in the app if the incident remains to be there. If not, there’s a button I can click on on, which I suspect requires a lot of responses to set off a removing for the incident.
Surprisingly sufficient, Apple Maps does have the power to create incident studies too, however the choices are restricted to simply three — crash, hazard, and pace examine. In using Apple Maps for during the last 12 months, I nonetheless have but to ever be notified about these studies, so I’m type of confused as to why this incident report choice is on the market if it doesn’t in flip instantly notify drivers.
Draw back of Google Maps with CarPlay
Most drivers may not be bothered by this, however there’s one draw back to using Google Maps for those who’re working CarPlay in your car — it doesn’t help different shows in addition to the primary one. What I’m referring to are all the opposite screens in a car, like the motive force facet show proper above the steering wheel, or a head-up show in the windshield.
When I run Apple Maps in CarPlay, it’ll combine with all of those different shows. Subsequently, it might present me driving instructions in the head-up show, in order that I’m not continuously wanting all the way down to see them on the primary dashboard show.
Regardless of this, I nonetheless run Google Maps over CarPlay due to its superior potential to tell me about highway incidents. Certain, they’ll solely present up in the primary show in my car, however at the very least I all the time get that verbal warning.
