How Google Maps incident reports work on Android Auto

It's been a long road, but accident reporting is finally available for Google Maps on Android Auto. With a full rollout taking a long time, we can now finally take a closer look at how the feature will actually work.

Google Maps first added accident reports a few years ago to allow drivers to warn other road users about accidents, speed traps, and other incidents along the road. However, as more drivers have switched to using their car's display, the feature has become less useful because Google Maps on Android Auto and Apple CarPlay didn't have the ability to create a new report, only display existing ones.

In July, Google finally started to change that by bringing accident reporting to CarPlay, but not to Android Auto at the time. Not long after, Android Auto users in India got access to the feature. In late July, Google had announced that a revamped accident reporting system would be rolling out across all Maps platforms, including Android Auto.

However, in the month and a half or so since that announcement, the rollout seems to have stalled, with hardly any users seeing the functionality live. However, we're finally getting a closer look at how it will actually work.

An Android Auto user on Reddit discovered today that Google Maps accident reports are live in their vehicle. A yellow triangle with a “+” symbol appears below the existing icons for settings, audio guidance, compass, and zoom buttons. Tapping this icon will reveal options to “add a report” for an accident, slowdown, construction, lane closure, as well as a broken down vehicle, object on the road, and speed trap, which are not shown in the shared image but appear in the Maps app on mobile.

This coincides with a broader rollout of the new incident reporting system via the mobile app.

It's unclear why this feature is taking so long to roll out, but we're happy to finally see progress. If you see any incident reports on Android Auto, let us know in the comments below!

More about Android Auto:

Follow Ben: Twitter/XThreads and Instagram