Google Maps is making road travel easier with new updates

Google Maps is improving its features to make route guidance convenient with relevant information and accessibility.

Google Maps announced new updates to its navigation app that will allow users to plan their roadtrips conveniently, without expecting any unforseen surprises. New added features include best routes with toll prices, enhanced routes with traffic lights, stop signs and buiding outlines to make navigating easy, and ease of access on-the-go for iOS applications.

Best routes with toll prices

Google Maps is helping users decide which route to take best by including the toll prices they may have to pay, in the navigation. With trusted information from local tolling authorities, the app will provide users with an estimated toll price they will have to pay should they choose to take that route. In the blog, Google Maps highlight that the app will look at tolling cost, payment methods, day of the week and the estimated price of the toll at the expected time the user will be cossing it. Users can simply avoid tolls by tapping the three dots in the top right corner and seecting the option.The feature will be available for US, India, Japan and Indonesia this month.

Detailed navigation map

To ensure navigation is convenient and not too unfamiliar while travelling down roads, Google Mpas has added more details to the route maps like traffic lights, stop signs, building outlines and areas of interest. In a few cities, the map displays the width of the road, medians and islands, to help drivers feel confident they are following the navigation correctly. This feature will be available in a few weeks in selected countries and will be available on Android, iOS, Android Auto and CarPlay.

Ease of access with iOS app

Google Maps has included easy access for the iOS application in their new update, letting you pin trip widgets right from your Home Screen. This widget can include your new planned trip, displaying your arrival time, next departure for transit trip and a suggested route if you're behind the wheel. The app has also decreased the size of the Google Maps search widget so that with just one tiny tap, users can easily search for places nearby or destinations they want to go. 

Starting in a few weeks, the Apple Watch will be able to use Google Maps to navigate you to your destination without your phone in hand. By just tapping the icon on the watch, you can begin the navigation and even add your Home location, to help guide you back when lost.

Google Maps has integrated with Spotlight Siri and the Shortcuts app on iOS, so that with voice commands to Siri you can access navigation information instantly. This feature will be available in the coming months, while the enhanced Siri functionality will be available this summer.