How to activate the warning of speed cameras and accidents in Google Maps
Have you ever been driving along, minding your own business, when all of a sudden you see flashing lights in your rearview mirror? It’s never a good feeling, and even if you weren’t speeding, you still have to go through the hassle of getting pulled over. But what if there was a way to avoid all that stress?
Enter Google Maps.
Google Maps has a feature that will warn you of speed cameras and accidents ahead, so you can be more aware of your surroundings and drive more safely. Here’s how to activate it:
First, open Google Maps and make sure you’re signed in. Then, tap on the three lines in the upper left-hand corner to open the menu. From there, select “Settings.”
Scroll down to “Navigation settings” and tap on it.
Under the “Warnings” section, you’ll see an option for “Speed cameras.” Tap on the toggle to turn it on.
Now, whenever you’re driving and there’s a speed camera ahead, you’ll see a small camera icon on the map. If there’s an accident ahead, you’ll see a small icon of a car with an exclamation point.
Of course, this feature is only as good as the data that’s being inputted into it, so it’s not perfect. But it’s a helpful tool to have nonetheless, and it could potentially save you from a costly speeding ticket. So be sure to activate it the next time you open Google Maps.
Many use their phone as a GPS thanks to Google Maps, one of the most practical applications both for walking on the street and for driving without fear of getting lost . Its list of functions is very extensive, and among other things it allows you to find your destination, calculate routes instantly, discover places of interest, etc. In addition, it can warn you of various elements during your trip, such as speed cameras from the DGT.
First of all, it must be remembered that the speed cameras of the General Directorate of Traffic, both mobile and fixed, have a deterrent function so that we all comply with the regulations of speed at the wheel . However, some of those radars are somewhat controversial because of their location. Be that as it may, Google Maps can tell you if you approach one , both from iPhone and from an Android phone. If you consult the Web version from home, it will show you accidents and construction sites , but not speed cameras from the General Directorate of Traffic or DGT.
Next, we are going to plan a trip and we are going to see how Google Maps does to show us the speed cameras that we will find on our route. In addition, we will see how to configure those warnings so that it is not too late.
Speed cameras in Google Maps
Google Maps shows speed cameras on a custom route. That is, you will not see them when you open the map as is. You have to plan a car trip and, then, the fixed and mobile speed cameras that Google Maps has in its database will appear on the map.
To get directions and see routes, in any form of transport, you will have to open Google Maps on your phone and search for the destination. Then, click on How to get there . You must indicate the means of transport you will use. In our case, car or motorcycle . Finally, we indicate the initial location, if the application has not detected it correctly.
We will see the available routes. Click on the one that seems most appropriate to the time and difficulty of the route you are looking for. You are always in time to change your route . As you can see, icons will appear on the routes shown indicating accidents, works in progress or, what interests us, speed cameras.
Please note that the DGT speed cameras will be displayed on the map. But not in the indications that it shows when you click on Steps and more . Anyway, during the route, in navigation mode and in the preview , we will see the map in real time, and it will show us all the necessary directions, including radars or accidents.
Another aspect that may interest you is that of tolls and highways . If you go to the drop-down in the upper right corner and click on Route options , you will be able to mark “Avoid motorways” and / or “Avoid tolls”. Two interesting options if you do not want to come across these elements during your trip, short, medium or long distance.
Radar warnings for you
We have already seen how to detect DGT speed cameras on Google Maps when planning a route. For now, visually. Using orange or blue icons . But while driving, the view must go to the road.
In navigation mode , Google Maps can tell you where to go through voice commands. So you don’t have to constantly look at the screen. It will also warn you when you approach speed cameras several kilometers before . But it doesn’t hurt to make sure that the voice prompts are activated.
When you are in navigation mode in Google Maps, slide the screen up and tap on Settings . You must activate Play audio alerts . And to test the volume, it is convenient to press once Play test sound .
Add an incident to Google Maps
Some of the information that Google Maps gives you has been provided by other drivers. In other words, you can contribute your own grain of sand by warning of speed cameras or other incidents during your trip . In two ways.
The first, updating the information available. During your trip, in navigation mode, if you click on the speed cameras that you find in your path, you will see a message asking you if that radar is still there . You can say “Yes” or “No”.
And if during your journey you find something new that is not in Google Maps, you can add it yourself to help other drivers when they pass by. By clicking on the icon in the form of a comic balloon with the + symbol, a window with all the available options will be displayed.
You can add to Google Maps a collision, a mobile radar, a retention, road works, a blocked lane, a crashed vehicle or an object on the road. Once added, you can undo it if you made a mistake or leave it as is.
