Google Maps gets ‘Stay Safer’ feature in India enabling route deviation alerts and live location sharing for Android users

Google has rolled out a new feature for Google Maps users in India. The safety feature is aimed at users travelling in auto-rickshaws and taxis. Called ‘Stay Safer’, the new Google Maps feature will alert and notify users when their taxis or auto-rickshaws go off-route. The feature will also allow Google Maps users to share their live location status with their friends and families, something WhatsApp already enables on its platform. Google says that users in India will be able to use the new ‘Stay Safer’ feature on their Android phones with the latest version of Google Maps.

To find the feature, users need to select the ‘Stay Safer’ and ‘Get off-route alerts’ options after searching for their destination and getting directions on Google Maps. If the driver of the vehicle deviates 0.5KM from the Google Maps suggested route, users will feel their phones buzz and get a prominent notification, tapping which will reveal where the user is compared to the original route. 

Live trip status can also be shared with friends of family members directly through the screen. 

Announcing the feature, Amanda Bishop, Product Manager, Google Maps said, “Through our extensive research across India, we found that a lot of people limit their mobility due to safety-related concerns. To address this, we are launching another India-first feature that will deliver a more relevant and reliable experience to our users. Our new ‘Stay Safer’ feature on Google Maps will alert users who are traveling in taxis, auto-rickshaws etc. in case their vehicle goes off route, giving them peace of mind. At Google Maps, we are committed to helping make journeys safe and hassle-free and look forward to bringing more experiences like this to India and beyond.”

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