Google Maps receives a radical update that you simply cannot afford to miss

Google Maps is the American tech giant’s solution to navigation and provides a wealth of functionality for users across the globe.

Google Maps is also regularly updated by the tech giant – these range from subtle tweaks to more drastic overhauls that alter the user experience.

And now the tech firm has rolled out a new update that attempts to make commuting much easier.

Google Maps now features a “commute” tab that will provide all information related to a journey in one section.

The software will update users if there is a delay to their route and will provide alternate travel methods accordingly.

And on Android devices notifications will be given about any disruptions in real time.

Google explained: “If you’ve ever been stuck in a hot, crowded subway tunnel or caught in gridlocked traffic wishing that you could magically transport yourself to work, you know that commuting can be hard.

“Today, we’re rolling out new features on Google Maps to help you take control of your daily commute— enabling you to plan ahead, prepare for the inevitable disruptions, and possibly avoid them altogether.

“Google Maps now features a commute tab that provides one-tap access to live traffic and transit information tailored to your commute.

“We’ll tell you if your commute is going to be a normal one or if you’ll need to budget extra time due to things like an accident or heavy traffic. In the case of a delay, we’ll tell you about alternative routes to help you get to work faster.

“On Android, you’ll also receive notifications about delays and disruptions on your route as they happen, so you can know about an incident before you get caught up in the delay.”

The new update will also support commutes that include multiple methods of travel such as the train and walking for instance.

The American tech giant went on: “There’s a new feature for people whose commutes involve both driving and public transit.

“You can see helpful information about when to leave, and for each leg of your trip: you’ll know if there’s traffic on your drive, when the next train departs, and how long it’ll take to walk from the train station to the office.

“We do the work for you and automatically factor this into your ETA so you can anticipate exactly when you’ll get to work.”

Most notably Google has insisted the new upgrade will allow people to see the precise location of their bus or train that will be updated live.

The tech firm declared the functionality will be avail be in “80 regions worldwide”, but did not immediately disclose if the UK was one of them.

Moreover, Google explained that in Sydney it had partnered with Transport New South Wales to gather data on how busy a train or bus is in real time.

That means Australian users in the area will be notified if they will be able to get a seat on their commute to work or not.

Google continued: “Sprinting to the subway station only to find that your train is delayed is our least favorite way to start the day.

“Now, transit riders in 80 regions worldwide will be able to see exactly where their bus or train is in real time on the map. This will help you plan your day more efficiently—you’ll know if you can spend an extra few minutes grabbing coffee, or if you really do need to make a run for it to catch your bus.

“And in Sydney, we’ve partnered with Transport New South Wales to show how full you next bus or train is – so you’ll know whether or not you’ll get a seat. This feature will be coming to more cities around the globe soon.”

Google Maps will also have built-in support for music services such as Spotify, Apple Music and Google Play Music that can accessed and controlled within the app itself so users do not have to switch software.

The new update started rolling out on both Android and iOS devices yesterday and will continue to be released to users throughout the week.