How to Check for Speed Traps, Speed Limits, and Traffic Accidents in Google Maps

Starting today, Google Maps is expanding its traffic features to more regions. The app will now display the speed limit for roads you’re currently on, as well as the location of various key pieces of traffic information—such as accidents, mobile speed trackers, and traffic cameras—in over 40 countries.

Speed limits are displayed in the lower left corner of Google Maps during navigation mode, and the app will alert you verbally if a reported accident, traffic slowdown, or speed trap is up ahead. Here’s how users can manually add the location of speed traps or other traffic information in the app:

1. Begin navigation mode in Google Maps by typing in an address and tapping the directions, or tapping the blue “Go” button from the main Google Maps screen and setting a destination, the tapping “Start.”
2. While in navigation mode, tap the “+” speech bubble icon (third icon down on the right).
3. Select the type of report you wish to make (either an accident, speed trap, or slow down).
4. The app will begin adding the report to the map, though you have a short countdown window to undo the report if you want to cancel.

These features have been present in other navigation services such as the Google-owned Waze app for a long time, but have been limited to certain regions in Google Maps. This new update expands all features to all regions in the U.S. and the following countries: Andorra, Australia, Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, The U.K., and Zimbabwe.

These new features are all added server-side, meaning no app updates or settings changes are required by the user in order to enable them—they’ll simply appear right in Google Maps, ready to go. That said, the rollout may not be completed everywhere, so keep checking back in the app if you aren’t able to use the new traffic features just yet. And of course, if you want to check the map or add information while you’re on the road, don’t try to do it while you’re driving—delegate that task to whoever’s in the passenger seat.

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