GOOGLE MAPS HAS A SPEEDOMETER: Here’s How To Use It To Make Driving Easy!

Google Maps is no doubt the number one navigation app, and there’s a good reason for the whole thing: it provides very accurate data of nearly the entire world, all mixed with next-generation features that makes it so convenient to go from point A to point B faster, safer and easier.

Though it comes with so many other significant features, Google Maps’ navigation tool is what drivers often turn to in order to find a specific destination and get guidance on how to reach it more conveniently.

Google has tried to make Google Maps more appropriate for the experience behind the wheel, which means the app now comes with several features specifically aimed at drivers.

This includes a speedometer, that is, and given its name is pretty straightforward, it’s easy to figure out what it does without any extra info.

• What the speedometer does in Google Maps

In addition to showing how fast you’re going, the speedometer also comes with other data, as it can look for the restrictions in the area you’re driving and then issue a warning if your speed is over the limit. Google has developed the speedometer to be as intuitive as possible, so it automatically changes its colors when going over the speed limit.

This is an approach similar to the one used by Waze, another Google-owned navigation app, this time specifically aimed at the driving experience. Waze, whose main focus is dealing with traffic and helping drivers avoid jams in their regions, also shows a speedometer, along with the speed limit for the current road. It can also issue visual and audio warnings when going over the speed limit.

In Google Maps, the speedometer is enabled by default, so you should get to see it out of the box. And of course, it works not only on mobile phones but also on head units when Android Auto is running on the screen.

• Why the speedometer seems invisible

While the speedometer in Waze is already available for all users, not the same thing can be said about its Google Maps sibling. And without a doubt, this is one of the reasons some people are reluctant to switch from Waze to Google Maps full time, like the speedometer, along with the speed limit for the road they’re driving on, has become an essential feature of their navigation app.

But in Google Maps, not everybody is getting the speedometer, and this is the reason:

Firstly, this feature is only available in certain locations, and unfortunately, Google doesn’t have a list of regions where the speedometer is already live. In other words, if the feature isn’t enabled and you already met all the other requirements, there’s a chance the speedometer isn’t yet up and running for your smartphone.

Then, worth knowing is the speedometer is currently offered to Android users exclusively, at least officially. Oddly enough, it previously showed up for a small number of iPhones too, but Google is believed to have conducted a series of experiments to prepare for a global rollout.

Also, you need to make sure the speedometer is enabled on your device. As we said earlier, it’s activated by default, but you should still double-check to determine if the feature has been enabled in Google Maps on your phone too.

To do this, just head over to Google Maps, open the Settings screen and go to Navigation settings. Speedometer is available under the Driving options section. If it’s not, then there’s a chance it’s not enabled for your device in the area where you are currently driving.

Google Maps recently gained the ability to display your driving speeds. The speedometer can be useful when you are constantly looking at the Maps while driving. Plus, if your vehicle’s speedometer is broken, this can be a useful little addition!

• How to enable speedometer in Google Maps

To enable a speedometer in Google Maps, follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Google Maps app.
2. Tap on the three-line button (hamburger menu) on the top left.
3. Now tap on Settings.
4. In the Settings page, scroll down and tap on Navigation settings.
5. Scroll down to the Driving options section and toggle the Speedometer option on.

Now, enter your destination and start navigating. Your driving speed should show up once you start moving. If you don’t see the speedometer option on your device yet, make sure you have the latest update of Google Maps installed. It is worth noting that the speedometer feature is merely for informational purposes and should not be used as a replacement for an actual speedometer installed in your vehicle.

• How to activate speed limits in Google Maps

The speed limit for Google Maps is shown in the bottom left corner of the map, above the bar that displays the duration of the journey, ETA, remaining kilometers, and the options that close the navigation and show the whole route. Here’s how you can turn it on for an Android smartphone:

1. Open Google Maps.
2. On the top right corner, click on your profile picture or your initials.
3. Head over to Settings.
4. Scroll down to Navigation Settings.
5. Head to the Speed Limits setting to toggle it on or off.

Users will also be notified by Google Maps if they are exceeding the speed limit on the road they’re driving on.

SOURCES

Bogdan Popa. (2021, January 31). The Google Maps Speedometer: A Mysterious Feature Everybody Loves.  https://www.autoevolution.com/news/the-google-maps-speedometer-a-mysterious-feature-everybody-loves-155329.html

Rounak Jain. (2019, December 23). How to enable speedometer in Google Maps. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/how-to/how-to-enable-speedometer-in-google-maps/amp_articleshow/72941543.cms