Home
News
You are here

New Google Maps feature directs drivers away from accident-prone routes

0comments

By Alan Friedman

Published: Jun 07, 2021, 12:10 AM

New Google Maps feature directs drivers away from accident-prone routes

Earlier this year we told you that instead of giving you the fastest route between two points by default, Google Maps will suggest a route that is more environmentally friendlyand uses less energy. Now, looking to prevent accidents, the Google Maps app will route users away from roads where drivers are known for braking hard which can lead to accidents. Google will then give other drivers an alternative route to prevent accidents from happening.

If a driver on the road slams on his brakes, a car behind him might not be able to to stop in time causing a chain reaction of crashes. Keeping users away from those roads where slamming on the brakes is typical, Google hopes to see fewer accidents, fewer injuries, and safer driving. According to Auto-Evolution, over 100 million hard-braking events can be eliminated a year if Google Maps directs drivers to take safer routes.

Google says, "For example, if there’s a sudden increase in hard-braking events along a route during a certain time of day when people are likely to be driving toward the glare of the sun, our system could detect those events and offer alternate routes." The new feature will be available on both the Android and iOS version of Google Maps.

Google Maps will search for a safer route where drivers don't slam on their brakes

To determine which roads are dangerous because of drivers who are braking hard, Google turns to sensors that are placed inside drivers' mobile devices. Accelerometers and gyroscopes can spot areas of the road where there is sudden deceleration pointing to hard braking. But even Google has to admit that just relying on sensors can lead to a false alarm.

Slamming a phone into a cup holder can create a false alarm and Google Maps might read that sudden stop as a car whose driver just slammed on the brakes. To improve the accuracy of the feature, Google turns to AI and analyzes Google Maps to see whether the driver slammed on the brakes along the route that was taken. Google can also analyze the actions taken by other vehicles taking the same road at the same time in order to determine the reason why a driver slammed on the brakes.

$349

$799

$450 off (56%)

Mint Mobile now sells the Google Pixel 10 with a massive $450 discount. The promo is available on select color variants with 128GB of storage. You also get a 12-month unlimited data plan for $180 instead of $360.

Buy at Mint Mobile

$524

$999

$475 off (48%)

Grab the pro-grade, compact Pixel 10 Pro at Mint Mobile with a 12-month unlimited plan, and you can save a huge $475. The data plan comes with a discount, too: 50% off, to be exact.

Buy at Mint Mobile

$499

$1199

$700 off (58%)

The high-end Gemini AI-enhanced Pixel 10 Pro XL is now available with a mind-blowing discount. You can now save $700 on the phone, plus 50% off unlimited 12-month plans.

Buy at Mint Mobile

$1399

$1799

$400 off (22%)

The foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold is another standout holiday offer. Right now, you can get the device for $400 off at Mint Mobile. On top of that, you save $180 on 12-month unlimited data plans.

Buy at Mint Mobile

View Full Bio

Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.

Read the latest from Alan Friedman