New Google Maps feature may help you tell when taxis are taking you the wrong way

An XDA senior editor has reported on a new Google Maps feature by which an ideal route for taxis or ride-shares can be generated and then monitored. This setting also pushes phone alerts should such a vehicle leave this route to the tune of 500 meters or more. It also includes options to share the progress of such a journey with others in (ideally) real time.

The new Maps facility has depressingly obvious uses from a personal security standpoint. However, it has additional advantages: for example, it may prevent fraud on the part of the odd unscrupulous taxi driver, particularly if the user is not familar with the area around which they are being driven.

To date, this new ability for Google Maps has only been observed on phones active in India. As this is one of the largest markets for mobile devices, it makes sense that the company are developing this feature in the region. Hopefully, it will also make it onto phones in others soon.