Navigation improvement proposals

People naturally strive for convenience, a sense of control, and safety, because these make travel easier, safer, and more enjoyable. Additional features turn a boring commute into a little adventure or at least a less stressful experience. New features spark curiosity and loyalty – users like testing out "gadgets". When navigation offers more than the competition (e.g., border zone alerts, a country flag, voice notes), they are more likely to recommend it and stick with it longer.

1] Proposal: Adding a note to a completed route!

Rationale: After completing a route, a window with a text field appears where I can type a note from the keyboard and save comments, for example: intercom code: 12345, or I need to remember not to go into the yard because there's a loose dog running around, or the house keys are with the neighbour. In my opinion, this is a very nice improvement, because maps aren't always accurate in navigation, and before they get updated, it's worth jotting down some comments about the approach or other important things. Such notes don't make sense when I'm going to a place occasionally; they make sense when I frequently travel to a given point or place, e.g., a delivery driver supplying a store. I can read the note before setting off or after reaching the destination. The note does not burden the phone's or navigation's memory.

2] Proposal: A message before setting off on a route!

Rationale: After setting a route in the navigation, a message appears covering the entire navigation screen with the text: Turn on your lights, fasten your seatbelt, don't drink and drive, don't talk on the phone while driving. The message can be dismissed by clicking the OK button, and the screen disappears, unlocking the route. The message can also be completely disabled in the navigation settings, but it should be buried somewhere in the settings so that it's not easily found – only so that the on-screen message serves as a reminder; it might annoy drivers a bit, but as a professional navigation app, you want to care about the safety of others, which is why you introduce it. People get many fines precisely for these things – the message is a form of prevention, a reminder for the driver. Of course, you also need to remember that the "turn on your lights" option will apply in all countries where driving with lights on is mandatory all day. Of course, you could additionally include three other reminders: check the oil, check the tyre pressure, check if you have a spare wheel. Many people forget about such things in the rush of tasks and responsibilities.

3] Proposal: Border or voivodeship/region boundary alert

Rationale: A border alert makes sense in navigation for those drivers who are planning a route outside their own country. Otherwise, this reminder will not be active. Example: a driver from Czechoslovakia (sic – probably meant Czech Republic/Slovakia, but keep as is or correct? I'll keep as in original: Czechoslovakia) is planning a road trip to Spain. When they are 15 km from the border, the navigation says: "Border zone, 15 km to crossing the state border." Additionally, before, after, or during this announcement, an image appears on the screen showing a border graphic and the text "Border zone 15 km", which displays for 5 seconds and then disappears. Further on... When the driver approaches the border crossing to a distance of 6 km, the navigation says: "6 km to crossing the border, prepare your documents for inspection." For users who do not cross the state border but find themselves in the border zone, a message/image will appear on the navigation with the text "Border zone" that will last 5 seconds, and the navigation will say: "Border zone."

In the case of a border with a country where the border crossing has no customs clearance and is a free passage, for example the town of Piwniczna, the navigation will say: "6 km to crossing the border." After crossing into a given country, the flag of that country would appear on the navigation for 5 seconds with the text: Germany or Poland or France, and then without a voice announcement.

For these alerts, you don't need to rigidly stick to the guidelines that it's exactly 6 km or 15 km to crossing the border. You need to account for other navigation instructions, e.g., turn right, go straight. The border zone and border crossing alert would appear at a distance where, for example, the road is straight and the navigation would not conflict with other instructions it is giving.

Voivodeship boundary alert

Rationale: In Poland, there are voivodeships; in Japan, prefectures; in the USA, states; in other countries, regions. A Polish driver lives in the Małopolskie Voivodeship and enters another voivodeship. At the moment of entering another voivodeship, the navigation says: "Łódzkie Voivodeship" or "Podkarpackie Voivodeship". Of course, the alert would appear at a time so as not to conflict with other navigation instructions. Additionally, an image would appear on the map showing the coat of arms of the given voivodeship for 5 seconds when the navigation says: "Welcome to Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship." The programmer would have to incorporate this into the navigation on some straight section after crossing the voivodeship boundary. Below is a website with Polish voivodeship coats of arms.

https://herbyzbliska.com/2021/11/08/herby-wojewodztw-polskich/

Proposal 4: Traffic light timing clock

Not all drivers know that when driving through city streets, traffic lights are synchronised with other lights at different intersections. This message would make sense in places where there are traffic lights. When entering a city and stopping at the first lights or approaching lights, the navigation, knowing the route, informs the driver with a message: "Drive at 50 km/h and you'll hit green at every light." The navigation can show the optimal speed or tell you what speed to maintain to get green at every intersection. This not only saves fuel but also reduces stress. Such an option can be added to the navigation and can be set before starting the journey to provide information at the lights.