A handy social feature on map apps like Apple Maps (and others) is the ability to crowdsource information. When people report an accident, a speed trap, fog, or another type of traffic slowdown, local users of the app benefit from that information with icons and warnings to keep them updated. Everyone benefits and safety increases.
But there’s a catch. Many incidents are time-sensitive. That means reporting is most useful when you do it immediately from your dashboard while driving safely. Apple provides a way to do this, but you must know your way around CarPlay. This guide shows you how to use these reporting features and their best shortcuts.
How to report incidents with Apple CarPlay
CarPlay can vary between car manufacturers and models, so things may look different on your dashboard. Still, the general steps apply. Make sureCarPlay is updatedbefore you begin so that new features are activated. CarPlay updates via Wi-Fi when it can connect to a home network, like in your garage.
The easiest way to report an incident on the road is to tell Siri. With Siri activated on CarPlay, say, “Siri” (Apple shortened the wake word from the previous “Hey Siri” since iOS 17) and give a command like the following:
If Apple Maps seems a little outdated based on the current situation, Siri can help you with an update. Say “Siri” and give an update like, “The hazard is gone here,” or “There is no accident here now.” You can do this manually by tapping theincident iconon the map screen and selectingClearedorStill Here, although this isn’t available for everything.
The caveat with this quick CarPlay work is that features can be limited depending on where you’re driving. Only certain reporting options are available in certain countries, and some may not have the feature. Options change from region to region, so you may need to experiment with the steps above and check the manual menu to see what’s available.
Can you report incidents on an iPhone?
If you don’t have a dashboard screen and use your iPhone or iPhone Pro for navigation, it’s still easy. The above Siri commands work and are the easiest way to report incidents when Siri is turned on for your iPhone apps.
You can report manually if you don’t use Siri, but it’s trickier on the smaller iPhone screen. With the map directions up, find the small menu arrow at the bottom of the screen, a gray icon with an arrow pointing up. Select it, and you get aReport an Incidentoption to choose from aCrash,Hazard, orSpeed Check. Again, it varies by region.
Can I report traffic incidents like this on Android?
you’re able to if you use an app like Google Maps on yourAndroid-powered phone. Google Maps has anAdd Reportoption on the map screen where you can select options likeCrash,Speed Trap, and more to add road hazards to the map. Third-party navigation apps like Waze offer similar features. However, these steps won’t help you with CarPlay. Generally, Apple Maps doesn’t work with Android platforms.
Keep Apple updated with the latest hazards at a moment’s notice
When you want to use Siri or a couple of touchscreen taps, you know how to report incidents for CarPlay or your iPhone while driving. Report responsibly, and only when you’re safe. For more information, check out ourlist of the best map apps for Androidand our comparison ofCarPlay vs. Android Auto.
