Google Maps traffic data issues

[Jobbo]

I've noticed quite a few times over the last couple of weeks that Google Maps has shown the M5 in the Midlands as closed when it isn't. It's usually relatively apparent because there's no tell-tale red queue up to the point it's supposedly closed; the traffic data line is green until the red dashed section. I posted about in on SABRE rather than here: https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/forum/vi ... 4&start=20

Searching for any info about this didn't get anywhere so I just assumed I can't trust Google Maps currently. And as someone who recommends always checking the traffic on Google Maps before setting off, that was a bit of a shame.

Lo and behold, it's made the news though because of what must be the same glitch happening in Germany: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/ ... are-closed
Still no answer from Google. Which probably means it isn't fixed yet. The longer it goes on, the more likely I am to switch wholesale to Apple Maps. If the data is unreliable then you just have to get used to an alternative that works.

[scotta]

I had similar last week with Waze. Section of the city bypass marked as closed...It wasnt.

[Jobbo]

I've seen people recommending Waze instead, but they've been owned by Google for some years and the data is shared; it seemed pretty unlikely the glitch would only affect Google Maps not Waze

[scotta]

I've seen people recommending Waze instead, but they've been owned by Google for some years and the data is shared; it seemed pretty unlikely the glitch would only affect Google Maps not Waze

Yup.

[IanF]

I wonder if it’s people pressing the road closed warning in the app?.. you know, to be funny!

[Jobbo]

Ian, that’s exactly what I wondered I’m not sure you can report a closure that way though, just an incident or whatever. And the closures actually have a specific ‘reopens at 10.30pm’ type message if you click on them.

[DeskJockey]

I was going to start a thread about this, because we experienced it in Germany. Coming through the Elb Tunnel (heading north) Google Maps wanted me to take the first junction off, then go round the roundabout and back down the other side. There was no reason to do so, either because of the road being closed (it clearly wasn't) or time (traffic was flowing as freely as it ever does around there, i.e. like treacle in a freezer, but still).

What I also noticed was how often and for how long it had the speed restrictions completely wrong. At one point it took a good 10 or so miles for it to realise that I wasn't in fact doing 130 in a 60, and switch from the deep red (danger, danger!) to white text. It seems to be confined to Germany though, didn't notice it in Denmark, Belgium, France or the Netherlands.

[unzippy]

I was going to start a thread about this, because we experienced it in Germany. Coming through the Elb Tunnel (heading north) Google Maps wanted me to take the first junction off, then go round the roundabout and back down the other side. There was no reason to do so, either because of the road being closed (it clearly wasn't) or time (traffic was flowing as freely as it ever does around there, i.e. like treacle in a freezer, but still).

What I also noticed was how often and for how long it had the speed restrictions completely wrong. At one point it took a good 10 or so miles for it to realise that I wasn't in fact doing 130 in a 60, and switch from the deep red (danger, danger!) to white text. It seems to be confined to Germany though, didn't notice it in Denmark, Belgium, France or the Netherlands.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/ ... are-closed

[Jobbo]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/ ... are-closed

See the first post in this thread

Be nice to see Google explain it or say it's solved.

[ShockDiamonds]

Even after a couple of updates, my BMW nav insists the road out of my town is closed due to roadworks and has been for about three years

[mik]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/ ... are-closed

See the first post in this thread

Be nice to see Google explain it or say it's solved.

Woz it H4cK0rZ?

[Mito Man]

Anyone else notice Waze now shows ambulances live? It’s only the responding ones. Quite clever.

[Jobbo]

This generall issue seemed to be fixed pretty quickly though I've seen a few random closures marked which aren't closed, leading to Google Maps trying to direct me off and back on a motorway at a junction.

Different issue this morning. I zoomed the map out after choosing my destination. I like to be able to see orange and red traffic on a larger map; I don't need a zoomed-in map when I'm on the motorway. And when I clicked 'Done' it zoomed back to a much closer-in view. Tried it a few times and got the same result. Tried manually closing Google Maps on my phone when stuck in traffic (that I didn't see coming up, natch) and it did the same after reopening. I can't believe it's intentional - is anyone else having the same issue?

[IanF]

I recently had to do a journey to LGW on two consecutive days with the same arrival time..

First day took 2 hours of pure driving pleasure to drive just over 40 miles…

Next day, I sat in the car and set up BMW Nav (clear directional map in centre, overview on instrument panel screen in front of you and directional repeated on hud, except when coming up to junction where the AR view comes up on instrument panel and junction overview shows up on hud - sounds complicated but actually quite clear), Google maps (central and instrument panel both show zoomed in directional map), Apple Maps (using CarPlay so centre and instrument panels swap over between directional and overview depending on choice on centre plus simple directions on hud) and Waze (similar to Google but has cartoonish graphics and characters on both screens ).. they all gave different journey times (and indeed routes!) with a 15min spread on etas. Turned out none of them were accurate and it still took me a little under 2 hours

TL;DR - driving on the M25 sucks