Google Maps on Android Auto finally catches up with the competition with a useful feature for drivers

Google Maps on Android Auto is gradually introducing the ability to constantly monitor speed and traffic signs while driving. As explained by Mishaal Rahman, Google's community relations manager, users will now see their current speed, speed limits, traffic lights, and stop signs on the screen even when they are not actively navigating to their destination. The feature is currently being gradually rolled out to all drivers.

This new feature comes after numerous complaints from users on Reddit who noticed the speedometer suddenly disappearing from the screen. The problem was related to the previous way the app worked, as this data was previously only displayed during active route guidance. Additional confusion was caused by previous attempts with test features, as individual drivers already had the option to display it permanently, but lost it again when clearing the app cache. The new update will “stabilize” this display for all users.

The speed display in Google Maps for Android Auto is coming with a significant delay. The built-in feature only arrived at the end of July, although Google's Waze app offered the option before Google's acquisition in 2013, and Apple's Apple CarPlay platform has supported it in Google Maps for about two years.

Displaying speed, limits and traffic signs on a single screen makes driving safer, as the driver does not have to constantly switch their gaze between the dashboard and the navigation. To enable the feature, users need to update the Google Maps and Android Auto apps on their smartphone, open Google Maps, click on the profile icon in the top right, and turn on the speedometer switch in the navigation settings.