You might not have to go back to old-school paper maps, but things are changing: Google Maps is rolling out new incident reporting features, this time focused on weather-related hazards.
Which new incident reports are available?
Some users have already noticed these new report options, which include Flooded Road for when heavy rain turns streets into rivers, Low Visibility for those times when fog makes everything look like a mystery movie, and Unplowed Road for when you realize your car is not built for a snow adventure. If you see that one, it might be a good time to rethink your route unless you’re driving a snowplow.
These updates will first make their way to Android Auto before showing up in the iPhone version of the app. The downside for those eager to see more types of road hazards reported is that these new features haven’t landed on the Android version of Google Maps just yet.
But don’t worry —Android users won’t be left out in the cold for long. The option to report flooded streets or snow-covered roads should roll out soon, so stay tuned (and maybe keep some snow chains handy in the meantime).
How do incident reports benefit drivers?
Google Maps keeps expanding its incident reporting features, building on last year’s addition of clearly labeled Waze reports alongside its own native alerts. Drivers can already flag all sorts of issues, including accidents, broken-down vehicles, lane closures, speed traps, and more.
These alerts can be real lifesavers—or at least stress savers—giving drivers a heads-up about trouble ahead. Plenty of people have avoided a major headache (or a speeding ticket) thanks to these warnings.
Not everyone is thrilled about Google Maps piling on even more incident reports. Some users already find them a bit too frequent, and as Google keeps adding more types of alerts, those complaints are bound to grow.
The frustration only gets worse when false alarms pop up—reports about problems that don’t exist or have already been cleared. And to make matters worse, there’s no simple way to turn these notifications off.
Still, Google seems determined to stay the course, even as some drivers metaphorically wave ‘stop’ signs at the idea.
How to report incidents in Google Maps
When you tap the option to report an incident, alongside the usual alerts for speed cameras, traffic jams, and other road hazards, you’ll now see some new weather-related warnings. These allow you to notify fellow drivers about tricky conditions you’ve come across.
The new report options include:
- Flooded road – For when rain turns the street into an unwanted swimming pool.
- Low visibility – Perfect for those foggy moments when even your GPS seems unsure.
- Unplowed road – A heads-up for drivers who don’t want to get stuck in deep snow.
These weather-related alerts will show up with a yellow icon and will be added to the existing lineup of reports, which already includes roadwork, lane closures, stalled vehicles, and objects blocking the road. And just in case you forgot, there’s a handy incident-reporting button on the side of the screen while you’re navigating.
Google Maps vs. Waze
Google Maps seems to be slowly borrowing features from Waze, which has long been the go-to app for real-time, community-driven traffic updates. This raises the question: will Google keep both apps running separately?
For now, that appears to be the plan. When Google merged the Maps and Waze teams back in 2022, it assured Waze users that it was still fully committed to keeping the app, its brand, and its dedicated community intact.
But let’s be real —it’s been three years now, and Google isn’t exactly known for keeping acquired apps separate forever. Just ask any frustrated Fitbit user. At the same time, the company knows that Maps isn’t just a driving tool —it’s a navigation lifeline for millions— so any drastic changes could spark serious backlash.
For now, we will have to wait and see if this new feature is useful, or becomes a spam nightmare that doesn’t let you see the route and distracts you while driving.