Avoid road block: block 500 m, 1 km or 2 km ahead

The block button in the cockpit

While you navigate, the cockpit has a block button. You tap it and the app asks how far ahead the road is blocked: 500 m, 1 km or 2 km. After your pick it calculates again and shows the reason: “Avoiding the block”. While the block is active, the button glows orange.

Lifting the block

If the road turns out to be open, tap the orange button again. The app lifts the block and calculates the route without it. A block only applies to the current navigation: it is gone when you start or end a navigation. While it is active, it stays in place for every recalculation, for example after you leave the route.

Why a single point is not enough

For each blocked point, the router removes only the one nearest piece of road. A single point far ahead would let the route make a small loop around exactly that spot and return to the same road afterwards. DriveBattle therefore covers the stretch densely: from 80 m ahead, a point about every 120 m, 20 at most. That covers the 2 km option. Only then does the route have to head in a different direction. The road under you stays open, otherwise the router would refuse the route altogether.

The app spots closed roads by itself

The navigation shows traffic reports along the route. If the service reports a closed road on your route at most 3 km ahead, the app excludes the affected stretch and recalculates, without you pressing the button. You see the reason: “Road closed ahead - routing around it”. Each report triggers this only once, and at least 30 seconds pass between two such detours. That way no loop of recalculations arises.

Hard closures only, no traffic jams

The app avoids by itself only roads that are reported as closed. A traffic jam or a single closed lane does not trigger it. A jam often clears, and excluding roads for every jam would work against the route all the time on a busy commute. You cannot drive through a closed road, though. If you want to avoid a jam, tap the block button yourself.

When the detour fails

If the recalculation fails, for example because there is no connection, the app takes the block back and reports: “Detour not possible - no connection”. The previous route stays and the button shows nothing false.

In the car with Android Auto

On the display in the car, “Avoid road block” is the fourth button of the action strip. A tap opens the prompt “How far ahead?” with two choices: 500 m or 2 km. If a reported closure lies ahead, the short choice reads “Reported closure” and excludes exactly that stretch. If you tap nothing, the prompt disappears after about 8 seconds. The car uses the same navigation as the phone.

What it costs

The block button and the automatic detour on the phone are not Premium features, and traffic reports are free for everyone. Android Auto is Premium as a whole, and so is the button in the car. During the beta everything is unlocked. After that Premium costs money, the purchase runs through Google Play and Google Play shows the price. This page describes the Android app.

Frequently asked questions

How do I avoid a road closure with the navigation app?

Tap the block button in the cockpit and pick 500 m, 1 km or 2 km ahead. DriveBattle excludes that stretch and calculates the route again.

Does DriveBattle avoid closed roads automatically?

Yes, if the traffic service reports a closed road on your route at most 3 km ahead. The app excludes it and recalculates.

Does the app also avoid a traffic jam?

Not by itself. It avoids only reported road closures automatically. You avoid a jam with the block button.

Can I lift a block again?

Yes. Tap the orange button once more and the app calculates the route again without the block. When a navigation starts or ends, the block is gone anyway.

Is Avoid road block part of Premium?

Not on the phone. Android Auto is Premium as a whole, and so is the button in the car.