Google Maps just launched a new feature that can estimate the price you'll have to pay in tolls to travel a specific route. The feature is currently available in both Android and IOS apps, according to Google.
Android Police first reported that the new toll rate is now visible in the app. However, the feature can't be enabled on two smartphones along the same route, according to The Verge.
This illustration picture shows Google map application displaying medical facility or a COVID-19 testing center on a smartphone in Arlington, Virginia on June 9, 2020. - A new version of Google's mapping service being rolled out will display pandemic-related transit alerts and let people know when buses or trains might be crowded.
Google Maps was originally seen working on precise toll data last summer, but it wasn't until April that the functionality was properly disclosed.
While the search engine company stated at the time that tolls would be available soon, there were only isolated reports last week about the feature's availability until a recent post verified the accessibility of toll information. Google officially announced that the feature is finally here.
"To help make the choice between toll roads and regular roads easier, we're rolling out toll prices on Google Maps for the first time," the company wrote on its support website.
Google claims that the presented toll pricing is based on "trusted information from local tolling authorities" and that the total cost is calculated using toll passes and the time of day.
When calculating routes, there is still an option to "avoid tolls." Google Maps could previously inform you when a toll was due for the entire journey but not compute how much that toll would be.
Is the Feature Available Everywhere
According to Google, the feature is accessible for "nearly 2000" toll roadways in the United States, India, Japan, and Indonesia. Google has announced that other countries will be added shortly but has not specified which ones.
Toll data is now only available on Android and iOS devices, with no news on whether it will be extended to Maps on the web.
However, there are several restrictions to consider. For one thing, Maps does not appear to display tolls for individual highways, instead of computing a total for the entire trip.
Android Police noted that Maps' statistics are estimates based on toll pass prices, which seems like it includes E-ZPass-style transponder savings, which means that if you pay cash, and especially if you drive a truck, trailer, or vehicle with many axles, you'll almost likely be paying significantly more.
The new toll information follows Google Maps' new feature that monitors the air quality within a particular place. Last month, it also released an "immersive view" that helps users to see the most real-time data on the navigation app.
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This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
