The Reason Why Google Maps Sometimes Gives You A Bad Route

Sometimes, when you use Google Maps, it will recommend a different, longer route than you may be familiar with. A recent study showed that there is a specific reason why the map app may take you on a winding path rather than the one that is technically more direct and therefore possibly faster. It all comes down to traffic congestion and clearing the best path for drivers who were already on it.

A dedicated team at Google's research department conducted a test on urban mobility to see if new routes on Google Maps could reduce travel delays and decrease emissions released by vehicles on the road. By offering additional routes to those who used Google Maps, it was revealed that traffic reduced in highly-congested areas, thus increasing vehicle speeds by 2% and shortening travel times for those cars by 0.7%.

That doesn't seem like a lot, but it did prove to scientists that it was possible to reduce total travel time by offering alternate routes. This is why those who use Google Maps will see multiple options as it's all in an effort to make travel smoother for cars in typically congested areas, such as major highways. There are also some new features added to Google Maps to help you travel more efficiently, as well.

The study, conducted by Google and its team of researchers, was done for a period of six months in 10 cities around the United States. These included major hubs or travel destinations including Seattle, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and more. The research took place on 100 road segments that were considered highly congested and saw Google Maps reroute users from busy highway and clogged strips of road to less busy roadways.

The alternate roadways selected were in a class similar to that of the main roads and had equal travel times, as well. The research discovered that throughout each city, there was a small increase in vehicle speeds and a reduction in travel times compared to initial paths as drivers were sent on new roads that avoided the busy sections. The research also uncovered that there was a potential decrease of about 1,000 tons of CO2 emission per city.

Google's study concluded by stating that while it was successful, the test was just a small portion of what could be possible. There were many other variables to be considered such as people using public transport and not following the route given. The study was a one-off test, and users still have the ability to select whatever routes come up on Google Maps. The company is constantly adding and updating the app as needed with useful new traffic features to assist drivers.

Outside of the test conducted by Google, there may be other factors at play that can provide you with multiple routes to a destination. If you ever find Google Maps offering you a few different routes to wherever you are going, you may be able to turn them off or disable them, depending on a few settings within the app itself.

Typically, Google Maps will offer multiple routes in general just so you can choose which path you want to take. However, if you have certain features turned on, there may be more routes showing in the app. A Reddit thread states that you may have an option that finds the most fuel efficient route enabled. You may also have the choice to avoid highways turned on, which may direct you on routes such as city streets and backroads.

Those and a few other hidden Google Maps features can make your travel a bit smoother. The research study was just one way to show how taking other roads can unclog highways and improve travel times for drivers in some of the more congested areas in busy cities. Google may eventually even work with city officials to build upon the research at a later date.