Google’s own Waze service has had this feature for a long time, but it’s still missing from Google Maps: the display for the current speed limit in road traffic. While the function is gradually being rolled out in the USA, users in Germany have so far received nothing.
If you don’t want to wait any longer, but don’t want to do without the advantages of Google Maps either, we’ll show you a trick below to retrofit the feature yourself.
Display permitted speed in Google Maps – this is how it works
We will show you a way of showing the maximum speeds allowed on Google Maps. This is made possible by the free Velociraptor app – but the trick only works on Android.
An extremely useful feature for Android is the display overlay. This gives you helpful app functions as a window on top of other apps and doesn’t have to switch back and forth. This is exactly what the free Android app Velociraptor uses and can display the speed limit and your current speed over any navigation app such as Google Maps. Practical: A tone warns you if you exceed the speed limit, and the size and transparency of the icons can also be adjusted.
Show speed limit and speed in Google Maps: This is how it works
Of course, to activate the feature, you need Google Maps itself, ideally in the latest version. In principle, the trick also works with other navigation apps. In addition, download and start the free Android app Velociraptor.
Now follow the instructions displayed in the app.
- Enable app permission for display overlay. The app will take you to the appropriate settings page.
- Grant the app permission to determine location.
- In order for the overlay to open automatically when you start a navigation app, you must finally activate the accessibility service.
If you have followed the steps in the app, you will now see your current speed based on GPS data and the maximum speed allowed in Google Maps. You can customize the icons and hide them if you wish. The app obtains the data for the permitted maximum speeds via the OpenStreetMap map service. The services TomTom Maps and HERE Maps can also be subscribed to for around one euro per month.
However, you should note that navigation apps are power guzzlers – an additional app that constantly measures your speed via GPS drains the battery even more. You should therefore always have a power bank for your smartphone or a car adapter with you to charge your cell phone in the car.