Google Maps is perhaps the most widely used app that focuses entirely on traveling. But reaching the front of the curve and staying there for such a long time has not yet dulled the innovative brains of the company. Google has rolled out a new security feature for its Google Maps app. This feature is known as the Stay Safer feature. It will be available to all those who have recently updated the app through the PlayStore.

The Stay Safer feature brings with it some subtle changes to the interface. A button with the same name will appear on the bottom-right side of the screen once the location has been entered. Tapping on it will present you with two options. The first option shall allow the user to share live progress of their trip with friends and family. Thus, whenever you are driving, riding or taking public transport, your friends, family, or the ones you intend to notify will know your exact location. Other information will also be provided to them. This includes the route that you are taking and your expected time of arrival at the selected destination.

This will surely put to rest the worries of many family members. Expecting hosts won’t have to call you, again and again, to inquire regarding your time of arrival. In case of delays, they will know whether the road you are on has any traffic on it. Your family and friends will get to know much sooner than usual in case you have been caught in an accident.

The second option is getting ‘off-route alerts’. This feature will tell you when your cab driver has deviated over 500 meters off the suggested route. This will help keep you safe and might help you save some bucks a lot of times.

The Stay Safer feature of Google Maps is simple yet astonishingly innovative. It seems obvious yet no one tried it before. It will surely be a huge success and will help out many of you who are out there on the road.