Google Maps can help you prepare if you’re traveling this holiday season.
Google is in the business of making information accessible to as many people as possible. With just the click of a mouse or the touch of your screen, you can find reliable data and information from leading sources. This holiday season, we are all making important decisions around our holiday plans and travel itineraries. If you're heading out of the house, Google can help you make this season as safe as possible for you and your family with the tools and resources below.
In a recent article, we explore the new COVID-19 layer available on Google Maps. This will become more important than ever if you plan to visit a new or different area. This map feature is a layer that visually shows a seven-day average of new COVID cases per 100,000 people in the geographic area displayed. Using a color scale, Google Maps can display the density of cases in any given area based on the information available. Additionally, Google will include a label to indicate whether the cases are trending up or down in the displayed region. For instructions on how to access the map, check out our blog post here.
Finally, Google Maps makes it easy to get where you need to go in the fastest, safest way possible. You can use Google Maps to plan your route, including preferences like avoiding tolls and using backroads. Google constantly updates its maps so it offers the latest information available on traffic, road closures, accidents, and more.
COVID-19 Map Layer
Crowd Reports
Another excellent resource available via Google Maps is the crowdedness feature. Google initially introduced this feature to help travelers avoid very busy times in public transportation. To access this feature, type in your destination in Google Maps, tap to see the Transit Details, and scroll down to find the crowdedness predictions. In addition, Google Maps also notes busy times and peak crowds of certain establishments, like grocery stores and restaurants. You can search any business, and if the information on peak times is available, you’ll see it under the name of the location in the “Popular times” chart. If there is enough data, you may also be able to see a “Live” report of how busy that establishment is at the moment you’re searching it.
Updated Traffic, Road Closures, and Accident Information
Finally, Google Maps makes it easy to get where you need to go in the fastest, safest way possible. You can use Google Maps to plan your route, including preferences like avoiding tolls and using backroads. Google constantly updates its maps so it offers the latest information available on traffic, road closures, accidents, and more.
No matter what your plans are for the holiday season, the team at Advanced Online Insights hopes you stay healthy and safe. We’re available to help you and your business prepare for a great 2021. Contact us for more information about how to find your business online, create a virtual tour, update your information, and more. Email sales@advancedonlineinsights.com to start the conversation.
