There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to get to work or an appointment on time and being slowed down by things out of your control – or are they? By making a few small changes to Google Maps, you can make your morning commute less of a headache.
Turn on traffic layers
See traffic intensity at a glance
Sometimes still turn on navigation even when I know how to get to my destination. Doing so shows the best route based on current traffic conditions and helps you avoid unexpected delays and traffic jams.
However, if you prefer not to use the navigation, you can view the current traffic intensity Google Maps by change one of the important parameters. Doing so will display traffic levels using an easy-to-understand, color-coded system.
To see this, select “Traffic” from the map details settings. Once activated, even if you close the app, it will remain active until you turn it off.
After you turn it on, the different roads will appear in different colors: green, yellow, and red, which are the same colors you’d find on a traffic light. Each color indicates the level of congestion on each road.
A green road means there is little congestion and traffic flows freely, while a yellow road means there is a moderate level of congestion. If the road is red, it means heavy traffic and slow traffic.
I though sometimes use alternating directions to reach familiar destinations, activating the traffic intensity overlay helps me understand what the route will look like in advance and if I should go a little faster. It provides additional information that helps me choose which route to take, as well as how long the trip will take.
Avoid routes that waste time and fuel
Check in to avoid tolls and highways and opt for fuel-efficient routes
While taking the highway or using toll roads may seem the most efficient at first glance, they are not always the best route. Since many people don’t run switches to avoid these options, these roads can become even more congested.
burn settings to avoid fees and highways can often direct you to alternate routes using back roads. In some cases, this can provide a faster, smoother ride than sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the highway.
Even if the route is quite long, a steady drive may be preferable to the constant stop-and-go traffic caused by heavy traffic, lane changes, and merging vehicles.
I prefer avoiding highways in the morning when I have a little extra time. Hitting back roads feels more peaceful and helps clear my head before a full day of work.
Another option to burn “Opt for fuel-efficient routes,” can be found in the same section as the settings for avoiding motorways and toll roads. When enabled, Google Maps determines fuel-efficient driving routes based on traffic, road trends and speed.
Enabling this option will prompt the app to prioritize routes with consistent speeds, which will help you avoid heavy traffic in the morning. It also helps save fuel by opting for routes with flatter terrain and avoiding steep hills that drain the fuel or battery faster.
Moreover, fuel economy is reduced need to stop for gas before work. I can’t count how many times I’ve had enough gas to get it in, but with fuel-efficient routes, I can extend the rest.
It eliminates stopping before work – which would lengthen my commute – and allows me to then fill it up when not racing against the clock.
Turn on notifications
Get notified of traffic updates and delays
If you’re like me, you get a bunch of notifications every day – some helpful, some not. I usually turn off notifications For apps that don’t need to constantly alert me, such as gaming apps.
However, I keep Google Maps notifications enabled because they are useful. The information they provide helps me plan my route and figure out how my ride will go before I leave in the morning.
I usually opt out of notifications when apps want to send them, but Google Maps is different. Its push notifications alert me to unexpected delays, road closures, or accidents on routes I frequently travel.
It can also tell me when to leave, taking into account live traffic and the preferences I’ve set, helping me arrive on time. This prevents me from leaving at my usual time, only to arrive late before I know it.
When I first started using Google Maps, I didn’t turn on notifications because I didn’t think about what they had to offer. One day I took my usual route to work at the usual time and got stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic because a tree had fallen across the road.
If I had enabled notifications, I could have run that route and gotten to work on time instead of being too late because of a fallen tree.
Having notifications enabled allows me to be informed even before I open the app. Since Google Maps knows my route and schedule, it alerts me to anything that might affect my ride and suggests better routes when necessary.
It is useful if you know the way
Commuting in the morning can be difficult, with many people going to school and work. However, with Google Maps, this doesn’t have to be the case. By exploring its settings and activating various options to adjust the routes it suggests, you can avoid bumper-to-bumper traffic and make your commute more enjoyable.
Google Maps can take the stress out of a morning’s commute by showing you what your route will look like ahead of time, offering different route options based on traffic, and informing you of current conditions. Instead of sticking to the default experience, customize the app’s settings to get the most out of your morning drive.
