The Gurugram Traffic Police in collaboration with Google has launched a new feature in the GPS navigation app, Google Maps, which will now display speed limits and accident-prone zones on 129 city roads in the country, transport officials confirmed on Friday.
The feature, which came into effect on Thursday, November 6, aims to improve road safety and address the rising number of fatal accidents in Gurugram, Hindustan Times reported.
The Gurugram Traffic Police has further expressed its intention to extend this digital warning feature to more than 200 city roads by early next year, covering all major intersections and thoroughfares.
How does this feature work?
At the heart of the new system is providing real-time alerts to motorists about speed limits and high-risk sections of the roads they drive on. By sending these alerts, the app serves as an instant digital guide to prompt drivers to maintain a safe speed and avoid sudden lane changes, a major cause of road deaths, officials told HT.
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Rajesh Mohan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Traffic), said the project aims to sensitize motorists on their responsibility while driving on the roads. “Many accidents occur because commuters drive rashly on busy stretches. The navigation app will now issue real-time speed limit alerts to remind them to slow down and drive responsibly,” he said.
He also emphasized that accident prevention is the main priority of this new project. “A driver who maintains a speed of around 30 kilometers per hour in congested areas has a much higher chance of surviving a collision. With this system, we are preventing accidents before they happen,” remarked DCP Mohan.
What are the accident prone zones?
The feature was introduced after the traffic police released some alarming accident statistics showing that 345 deaths and over 580 injuries in road accidents have been recorded in Gurugram so far this year.
Police data shows that the most accident places are:
— Golf Course Extension Road
All these areas will soon display virtual warning signs in GPS navigation applications.
At the same time, to back up the technical system, the police are increasing om-ground enforcement through ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras, drones and digital guys.
According to police data, there have been 50 accidents this year on expressways including NH-48, Dwarka Expressway and Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP). In 2024, Gurugram recorded 448 deaths and over 1,000 accidents, making it one of the highest accident-prone districts of Haryana.
Public reaction to the feature
The move was welcomed by residents, although many stressed that enforcement should go hand in hand with education. Rohit Saini, a corporate employee who commutes from Sector 57 to Cyber City daily, told HT that “speed alerts on Google Maps will definitely help, especially at night. Many drivers, including taxi and van drivers, have no idea about the local speed limits. These reminders can save lives.”
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Similarly, another resident, Komal Sharma of Sector 83, emphasized that technology can only help if people fear the consequences. “I have seen cars racing on the Dwarka Expressway as if it were a track. There should be patrol teams and instant penalties,” she said.
