Google Maps is easily one of the must-have apps on a mobile phone, whether you’re rocking an Android handset or an iPhone. The app’s main feature is to help you find places and navigate to them, whether it’s by driving, using public transport, or walking, though Google Maps can be used for finding places of interest nearby that match specific criteria. On Tuesday, Google unveiled another useful Google Maps feature that allows the app to see the road and the lanes and provide instructions in real-time to switch lanes so you don’t miss your exit.
Navigation apps like Google Maps already provide information about turns and exits, but it’s up to the driver to ensure they’re following the route and staying in the right lane for a specific exit. The feature Google introduced on Tuesday will make it even easier for drivers to follow directions, as Google Maps will now provide clear visual cues to change lanes before you get to your exit. While this feature is highly useful, there’s a caveat Google Maps users should be aware of: it is currently unavailable to most people.
Only Polestar 4 owners in the U.S. and Sweden will be able to take advantage of the live lane guidance feature starting today. Initially, this feature will work on highways only. Google plans to roll it out to more car models in the future, but the company mentioned only the Polestar partnership in its announcement. Over time, the feature will expand to include other road types as well.
Why is the feature restricted to the Polestar 4?
The reason Google is opting for a limited launch concerns the vehicle’s hardware and software capabilities. Google Maps uses built-in AI to analyze lane markings captured by the car’s front-facing camera. This is how Google Maps determines if you’re in the wrong lane. For example, Google explains, “if you’re in the far left lane and your exit is on the right, live lane guidance automatically detects this and uses clear audio and visual cues to remind you to merge in time.”
In a visual example Google shared, the opposite case is shown: live lane guidance instructs the driver to merge into one of the two left lanes to ensure they are on the correct path to their destination. The correct lanes are highlighted in the app, and an arrow pointing to the left appears on the screen to inform the driver they need to merge left.
Additionally, this new Google Maps feature is launching in a car with Google built-in. Google notes that Polestar has been a close partner since 2020, with the Polestar 2 being the first car with Google built-in. Sid Odedra, Head of UI/UX at Polestar said in a statement, “Over the past five years, Polestar’s collaboration with Google has delivered many new features for Polestar owners. Live lane guidance continues the path of Polestar’s driver-centric UX strategy, reducing driver stress and improving safety by making missed exits and last-minute lane changes much less of a worry.”
