Google Maps tests a feature to avoid getting ripped off in taxis

Lately the Google Maps team has been surprising us with some interesting initiatives. One of the ones that has caught our attention the most and that is already working fully is the fixed speed camera detector. In fact, if you take a route on a road where a speed camera is located with Google Maps activated, you will receive a voice warning warning you that you are about to reach a speed camera

Well, now it seems that Google is testing a new alerts function, which in this case will not help you as a driver, but rather as a passenger. And specifically as a passenger in a taxi.

Today we learned that Google Maps plans to integrate a function into its maps that will notify you when a taxi leaves the agreed route.This is a feature that will prevent the most suspicious, if they believe that a taxi driver can trick them in a city they don't know. Whether here in Spain or anywhere else in the world.

An alert for distrustful taxi passengers

An extra turn on a street or the fact of going through a street that is especially busy (or under construction) when there are faster alternatives can bring a few extra euros to the taxi driver. It happens that when we are in a city we don't know at all, we are more vulnerable to suffer these little deceptions.

And although you have to trust the good intentions of people – in this case taxi drivers – we can always find someone who wants to be smart.

And that's where the new Google Maps feature comes into play. Users who get into a taxi and want to use this system will receive an alert on their mobile phone every time the taxi strays a minimum of 500 meters from the planned route Y Although the feature can be very practical for regular taxi passengers, it can also help us stay on track if we are the drivers ourselves.

When will this feature go live?

Well, at the moment nothing is clear. Please note that this feature has been spotted by an editor at XDA Developers, Aamir Siddiqui. In fact, it seems that the function that alerts us if we stray from the route is only operational in India. We do not know if fully or only in test mode.

In any case, there is still no data to reveal whether this option will reach the rest of the countries sooner rather than later and, in general, to ordinary Google users Maps. Be that as it may, we will remain attentive to notify you in the event that this is the case.

Other functions in the laboratory

There are countless features that Google is testing to integrate and improve its map service. In recent days, for example, we have discovered a functionality that also applies in India and that helps the citizens of this country to check if there are delays on public transport. Likewise, and to improve forecasts, Google has begun to ask users about the delays experienced.

But there's more. One of the most common gestures when looking for a place to eat in a city is asking Google Maps for help. To improve this tool, Google has enabled an option (also in tests) so that users can indicate what their favorite dishes are in the restaurants they go to. It's a good way to help people decide what speci alty to eat in each place.