With its next free upgrade, Google Maps is promising to help you find the perfect parking spot and swerve the worst traffic jams across the UK.
Until now, Google Maps has always provided turn-by-turn driving directions to the postcode or address that you typed into the search bar but hasn't anticipated that you'll need to park your vehicle at the end of the journey. That all changes with the "Destination Guidance" bundled as part of the incoming Google Maps update, which proactively highlights the entrance to multi-storey car parks and large apartment complexes, as well as nearby parking spaces that are available to you as you approach your final destination.
New icons for nearby parking and the entrance into a large complex, like an apartment block, will appear in Google Maps as part of a future update
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A vibrant green icon with an illustration of an arrow pointing inside an open doorway will show up as your vehicle approaches an expansive building, like a new housing development, hotel, or apartment complex — guiding you to the entrance, so you'll never have to drive around a few times trying to locate the gate.
Meanwhile, vacant parking places will be marked with a large "P" icon. According to Google, both of these nifty tweaks will be especially helpful for drivers in unfamiliar surroundings, or when it's dark or late at night.
There's no release date for the new features, but Google has pledged that Destination Guidance will start to roll out on Android and iOS devices, cars with Google Built-in, Android Auto, or Apple CarPlay in the coming weeks.
As well as the improvements around parking, Google Maps is also making it easier to report roadworks, delays, lane closures, and other obstructions en route. There's no need to wait for this update as it's coming to Google Maps users from today.
Once the update has been installed on your device, you'll find new larger shortcuts to report common issues on the road, which should make them easier to trigger from behind the wheel. These shortcuts are accessed by tapping on the button that appears as a warning triangle during turn-by-turn directions.
When you've reported an incident on the road, like a crash causing delays, other nearby drivers will be asked to confirm the incident with a tap. This promises to improve the data available to all Google Maps users. Not to be overshadowed by the new features coming to Google Maps, the other Google-owned navigation app — Waze — is also being treated to some new tricks.
Google has added larger buttons to report some of the most commonly-seen issues on the road, making it much quicker — and simpler — to report an incident and improve the data used by Maps
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Waze users can now report new types of traffic cameras, like those designed to check if you're wearing a seat belt and if you're texting while driving. Waze also adds a dedicated experience for event days, with heaps of information about road closures specific to a large event, like a marathon, football match, or concert.
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The updates arrive just a few days after Apple Maps announced a new update to its own navigation software to compete head-to-head with Google Maps — a shake-up that's been at least 12 years in the making. Outside of the Cupertino-based company, Google Maps also faces competition from the likes of Bing Maps and Here WeGo.
