APPLE MAPS
(DEUTSCHLAND)
RETHINKING APPLE MAPS’ “REPORT AN INCIDENT / STÖRUNG MELDEN” FEATURE TO BETTER SERVE DRIVERS ON GERMAN ROADS, WITH A FLEXIBLE EXPERIENCE ACROSS VOICE AND CARPLAY INTERACTIONS ON IOS 27.
*SCREENS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR IN-CAR SCREENS
WHATS EXISITING
APPLE MAPS LET'S GERMAN DRIVERS REPORT 5 TYPES OF INCIDENTS:
UNFALL( ACCIDENT)
GEFAHR (DANGER)
VERKEHR (TRAFFIC)
STRAßENARBEITEN (ROAD WORKS)
STRAßENSPERRUNG (ROAD CLOSURE)
ALL ARE ADAPTED FROM THE US VERSION AND TRANSLATED FOR GERMAN USERS. REPORTING WORKS THROUGH SIRI, CARPLAY, OR IPHONE, AND APPLE ONLY DISPLAYS AN INCIDENT MARKER AFTER IT HAS RECEIVED ENOUGH CONFIRMING REPORTS FROM DIFFERENT DEVICES.
CONSTRAINT/ UNDER SECTION 23, PARAGRAPH 1C OF THE GERMAN ROAD TRAFFIC ACT (STVO), DRIVERS ARE EXPLICITLY PROHIBITED FROM USING ANY TECHNOLOGY THAT WARNS THEM OF SPEED TRAPS, RADAR CONTROLS, OR SPEED CAMERAS WHILE DRIVING. VIOLATING THIS RULE CAN RESULT IN A €75 FINE AND A POINT ON YOUR DRIVING RECORD. SO, UNLIKE IN THE US, YOU CANNOT REPORT SPEED CAMERAS THROUGH APPLE MAPS IN GERMANY.
FROM TAPPING THE “REPORT AN INCIDENT” ICON (IMAGE 1), TWO INCIDENT OPTIONS APPEAR (IMAGE 2), FOLLOWED BY A QUICK CONFIRMATION STEP (IMAGE 3).
WHY THATS A PROBLEM
1) "GEFAHR" IS TOO BROAD TO BE USEFUL. A TRAM BLOCKING A JUNCTION, A TRACTOR ON A LANDSTRASSE, BLACK ICE, FOG, A BROKEN SIGNAL, OR THE TAIL OF A TRAFFIC JAM CAN ALL BE REPORTED AS “GEFAHR.” BUT EACH SITUATION REQUIRES A DIFFERENT RESPONSE FROM THE DRIVER. LUMPING THEM INTO ONE CATEGORY MEANS DRIVERS DON’T KNOW WHAT KIND OF HAZARD THEY ARE APPROACHING OR HOW THEY SHOULD REACT.
(2) “VERKEHR” IS TOO VAGUE TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING AHEAD. IT DOESN’T CLEARLY TELL THE DRIVER WHETHER TRAFFIC IS SLOW, STOPPED, BUILDING UP, OR JUST HEAVIER THAN USUAL — MAKING IT HARDER TO UNDERSTAND THE ACTUAL CONDITION OF THE ROAD.
(3) “STRASSENARBEITEN” ONLY TELLS THE DRIVER THAT ROAD WORK IS HAPPENING, NOT WHAT IT MEANS FOR THEIR JOURNEY. IT DOESN’T MAKE THE IMPACT CLEAR — SUCH AS WHETHER A LANE IS CLOSED, TRAFFIC IS BEING DIVERTED, OR DELAYS ARE EXPECTED — LEAVING THE DRIVER WITH TOO LITTLE INFORMATION TO PLAN AROUND IT.
(4) “STRASSENSPERRUNG” TELLS DRIVERS THAT A ROAD IS CLOSED, BUT NOT ENOUGH ABOUT THE CLOSURE TO PLAN AROUND IT. WITHOUT CLEAR INFORMATION ABOUT HOW LONG THE CLOSURE IS EXPECTED TO LAST, DRIVERS CAN’T EASILY JUDGE WHETHER TO WAIT, TAKE AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE, OR CHANGE THEIR JOURNEY.
THE PROBLEM BECOMES MORE OBVIOUS WITH REAL-TIME REPORTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS. A “GEFAHR” REPORT CAN TELL YOU THAT SOMETHING WAS REPORTED, BUT NOT ALWAYS WHAT IS HAPPENING, WHERE IT IS, OR WHETHER IT STILL AFFECTS YOUR ROUTE.
SO THE OPPORTUNITY IS TO NARROW INCIDENTS DOWN INTO MORE SPECIFIC, ACTIONABLE INCIDENT TYPES — WHILE KEEPING REPORTING FAST ENOUGH TO WORK FROM A CAR SCREEN OR BY VOICE.
SOLUTION
(1) REPORTERS NEED A FAST WAY TO DESCRIBE WHAT THEY SEE ON THE ROAD.
(2) FOLLOWING DRIVERS NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY APPROACHING.
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SO, NARROWING DOWN THE OPTIONS INTO QUICK, SPECIFIC INCIDENT TYPES — DESIGNED FOR CARPLAY AND VOICE TO KEEP REPORTING FAST AND MINIMISE DRIVER DISTRACTION, WHILE REMAINING ALIGNED WITH LOCAL TRAFFIC LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
CATOGARIES THAT MIGHT FALL UNDER EACH SECTION
(2) FOLLOWING DRIVERS NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY APPROACHING.
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