All of that information (and the number of users who use the app on a regular, if not daily, basis) has given Google a huge database of traffic data, which allows it not only to monitor what's happening now, but also to more accurately predict what will happen as you continue on that particular route. When the app is open, it is constantly sending information back to Google, providing data about the route being traveled and what the traffic patterns and average speeds are like at any given time of day. I was coasting down the interstate on-ramp, when the Maps voice said 'You are on the fastest route and your route is clear.' But how does Google Maps know that? According to Tech Insider, it's a combination of the number of people who are currently using the service, its database of historical traffic data and a few technological tricks it has absorbed from other companies.Įveryone who uses Google Maps is helping the app become a little more accurate - and a little more indispensable - for the rest of us. Pull up the bottom menu until it covers the map. Looking for an alternative to Google Maps Directions Use our route planner to get from point A to point B using accurate location data and high-quality directions for transit, biking, driving, and walking. A couple of days ago, I was driving to a concert on the other side of the state, a trip that was intermittently soundtracked by Google Maps' turn-by-turn directions. Search for a large area or city, specifically the general area you need directions for.

Google maps directions