The feature uses AI to identify speed limits from Street View and third-party imagery, and is currently only available on Android devices. With this update, drivers can receive important information on speed limits, even in unfamiliar or challenging driving conditions. To use the new feature, simply open the Google Maps app on your Android device.
To access your account settings on Google Maps, simply tap on your profile picture or initial located in the top right corner of the app. This will open a drop-down menu where you can select "Settings." From there, navigate to "Navigation settings" to find the section labelled "Driving options." Here, you can toggle the speedometer on or off to get real-time information on your driving speed. Once enabled, the speedometer will show your GPS speed while navigating with Google Maps and can even alert you if you're exceeding the speed limit by changing colours.
If you're wondering how the speedometer works, Google Maps uses AI to identify speed limits from Street View imagery and third-party imagery. The AI model is trained on hundreds of different types of signs from all over the world to ensure that it can detect the speed limit even if the sign looks different. It then uses GPS information from the image to match it to its exact geographic location so that the speed limit can be updated accordingly. Google Maps also analyses traffic patterns to detect potential speed limit changes and cross-references this information with official data and refreshed Street View imagery for verification. In areas lacking recent Street View imagery, Google Maps requests images from third-party partners to extract new speed limit information, ensuring the speedometer's accuracy and timeliness.Google states that the speedometer functionality in Maps serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it assists drivers in adhering to the prescribed speed limits, ensuring legal compliance. Secondly, it supports automakers in their pursuit of developing cutting-edge assisted driving technologies.