Improve Your Road Trip with Apple Maps in iOS 15

Apple Maps has become a trusted navigator for drivers and with major updates in iOS 15, your commute or road trip is going to be even smoother. Details aimed at improving the driving experience and overall safety include showing added road features and traffic conditions and more accurate route planning.

Newly available street-level views allow for better navigation through busy city streets. Complex highway interchanges will be easier to manage with a three-dimensional overlay that will allow you to choose the best lane for an exit or which lane isn’t going to turn into an exit. Differentiation between bus lanes, HOV lanes, and bike lanes will also help you be in the right place at the right time. The 3D road view will also make it easier to see upcoming road hazards. 

Some of these enhanced details are only in select cities so if you don’t live in a major metropolitan area, you might not see all the new iOS 15 features, but Apple is always adding new cities to the list so keep checking.zAA

Let’s hit the road!

Get Directions for Driving

Step 1. Step 1. Use Siri or search for your destination.

Step 2. Tap your destination.

Step 3. Select your suggested route. 

Switch to driving directions: Driving may not be your default mode of transportation, if not just tap the car icon to see a suggested driving route.

Choose a future departure or arrival time: Tap “Leaving Now” (near the top of the route card), select a time or date for departure or arrival, then tap “Done.” That estimated time will be updated based on predicted traffic conditions.

Avoid tolls or highways: Scroll to the bottom of the route card, then turn on an option.

Choose other route options: You can reverse the starting point and destination, select a different starting point or destination, and more. Tap “My Location” and choose your options from the next screen. When you’re done, tap “Route” to return.

Step 3. After you’ve made choices on settings tap “Go” for the route you want.

Maps will run in the background and provide turn-by-turn directions as you travel even if the screen locks, you switch to another app, or Driving Focus is on. 

Other features you can use after you have chosen a route are “Add a Stop,” “Share your ETA,” or “Report an Incident.” Tap the arrow icon and choose an option from the slide up menu. 

You can also turn voice navigation off or set it to alerts only by tapping the speaker icon and choosing one of the options.

To return to Maps from another app, tap the directions banner at the top of the screen or the navigation indicator (the blue button at the top left in the status bar).

Report Traffic Incidents

In an ongoing safety effort, Maps allows select regions to report accidents, hazards, speed checks, and road work. The easiest way, especially while driving, is to use Siri. Just say, “Hey Siri, report an accident.” Or “Hey Siri, there is road work here.”

To report an incident without Siri when following turn-by-turn driving directions: 

Step 1. Tap the route card at the bottom of the screen.

Step 2. Next tap “Report an Incident.” 

Step 3. From the next screen, choose an option.

To report an incident without Siri when not following turn-by-turn directions: 

Step 1. Tap your picture or initials next to the search field.

Step 2. Then tap “Reports.” 

Step 3. Select “Report an Incident.” 

Step 4. Choose the type of incident you want to report.

Step 4. Fill in the information and hit “Submit” when you are finished.

Apple does evaluate incident reports and determines a confidence level of the reports. If a report has a high confidence level the Apple will display markers for hazards  and accidents . Speed checks do not have a marker display but will appear in the turn-by-turn directions.

Report an Incident has Cleared

Again, Siri is going to be the best option. Try “Hey Siri, the hazard is gone” or “Hey Siri, the accident is cleared.” 

To clear an incident without Siri:

Step 1. Tap the incident marker.

Step 2. Tap “Cleared” or “Still Here.”

Clearing incidents is also evaluated by Apple and it may take time for your report to clear on Maps, and you can’t clear speed checks.

Find Your Parked Car

When you disconnect your iPhone from your car’s Bluetooth or CarPlay system a blue pin is placed on the so you can easily find it again. No more remembering confusing parking garage levels.

To turn the parking location feature on or off:

Step 1. Open Settings.

Step 2. Select Maps.

Step 3. Scroll down and toggle “Show Parked Location” to on or off.

Show or Hide the Compass or the Speed Limit Indicators

Step 1. Open Settings.

Step 2. Select Maps.

Step 3. In the “Directions” section, choose “Driving” from the menu.

Step 4. Toggle Compass of Speed Limit on or off. 

Don’t forget to make an epic play list with Apple Music for your epic road trip!

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