Apple Maps and Google Maps Enhance Safety with Live ETA Sharing Feature
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As technology continues to evolve to promote safer driving habits, Apple Maps and Google Maps now offer built-in features that enable users to share their estimated time of arrival (ETA) with contacts automatically while navigating. This advancement ensures that drivers can keep loved ones informed without the need for constant check-ins, allowing them to focus on the road ahead.
The ability to share live ETAs has become an essential tool for everyday travel, providing peace of mind to both drivers and recipients. Whether traveling late at night, covering a long distance, or navigating unfamiliar routes, this feature keeps contacts updated with real-time arrival information, reducing anxiety and unnecessary distractions.
On Apple devices, users running iOS 26.2 or later can activate ETA sharing through Apple Maps. After enabling location permissions and ensuring the app has access to share ETA data, drivers simply start navigation to their destination, tap the route card, and select “Share ETA.” Contacts receive notifications and can track the driver’s progress until arrival or until sharing is manually stopped. This seamless integration helps maintain focus on safe driving practices.
Similarly, Android users with Google Maps installed on devices running Android 16 or above can share their ETA by initiating navigation and selecting the share option within the app. The live updates adjust automatically as traffic conditions change, giving recipients accurate arrival times without requiring the driver to interact with their phone during transit.
These features align with recommendations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which emphasizes minimizing distractions behind the wheel to reduce accidents. By automating ETA sharing, Apple and Google provide a practical solution that supports safer travel.
To enable these features, iPhone users should verify that location services are activated for Apple Maps and that the app has permission to share ETA data. This can be done by navigating to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and ensuring Apple Maps is set to “While Using the App” or “Always,” with Precise Location enabled. Additionally, users must enable the “Share ETA” toggle within the app settings.
Android users should confirm that Google Maps is updated to the latest version and that location permissions are granted. Once navigation begins, the option to share ETA appears in the interface, allowing drivers to select contacts from their list or enter new recipients.
Transportation safety advocates have praised these developments, noting that reducing the need to text or call while driving significantly lowers the risk of accidents. The U.S. government continues to encourage the adoption of technologies that support hands-free communication and safer driving behaviors.
As more drivers adopt these tools, the hope is that fewer distractions will translate into safer roads nationwide. For detailed guidance on how to use these features, users can visit official resources such as the Apple Maps support page and the Google Maps Help Center.
With these innovations, the simple act of sharing an ETA becomes a powerful step toward enhancing road safety and keeping families connected without compromising focus behind the wheel.
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