The speedometer on Android Auto in Google Maps is about to be a fixed destination.
Android Auto is getting the ability to have the speedometer, speed limit, traffic signals, and stop signs show on Google Maps, even when a destination is not set, according to Mishaal Rahman, community engagement manager for Android.
Rahman said the feature is still rolling out.
Mixed signals cause confusion
The news was delivered on Reddit as part of Rahman’s response to users who were concerned a bug had removed the speedometer and other indicators like the speed limit and signals altogether from Google Maps.
The outcry began about a week ago, however it seems like most people did not realize that the information would only display if a destination was set.
Adding to the confusion, some people already had persistent navigation as a part of feature experiments, but lost it from wiping app cache.
The long road to a speedometer
Android Auto didn’t get a speedometer in Google Maps until late in July. Its arrival was hailed, though it was very late.
Waze had a speedometer even before Google acquired it in 2013, which begged the question about why Google Maps took so long to adopt one of its own on Android Auto. Particularly because Google Maps on Apple CarPlay has had it for two years.
Being able to see a vehicle’s speed, the speed limit, and traffic signals all while also viewing its location makes for a safer driving experience than looking between the dash display and Google Maps.
And the speedometer on Google Maps is arguably more accurate because GPS is a pure calculation of a vehicle’s speed, that is speed equals distance divided by time, whereas a car’s speedometer depends on a variety of factors that are calculated to display a speed that is within an industry-accepted range of accuracy, but is not necessarily accurate.
To enable the speedometer, update Google Maps and Android Aito, then open Google Maps on your phone. Tap your account on the upper right, then go to Settings > Navigation > Driving options, and toggle the switch for Speedometer to On.
