The app that can do almost nothing – but costs taxpayers €1.2 million

A year ago, the Federal Government’s Autobahn app was introduced by Berliner Autobahn GmbH with great fanfare. It was sold as a “milestone in the digitization of transportation”. It cost 1.2 million euros in tax money to develop the app. Money that may have been wasted. Because the application, if you believe the users, is a complete flaw. Shortly after its launch, app stores were full of negative reviews: “absolutely meaningless”, “a waste of taxpayer money”. If you look at the app a year later, you can just tell: it started very poorly and then went down even more…

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The concept of the Autobahn app makes sense at first: the Autobahn GmbH des Bundes should not keep the wealth of data on the current traffic situation on federal highways for itself, but should share it with drivers via a smartphone app. After all, the government company knows each construction site and also knows when to close it again. The highway company can also provide reliable information about major traffic jams or the locations of serious accidents.

Looks really good. But in practice, it turns out that application developers did not properly understand what constitutes added value to the user. This is probably the first app where you don’t notice what it can do – but what it can’t do.

Autobahn app is unable to provide dynamic step by step directions

Navigation not working: The autobahn should be suitable from the start for an essential function that other map applications can perform, namely physical navigation. This is still the case a year after the first app release was presented on July 20, 2021 and after 750,000 downloads. For example, if you look up the route from Berlin to Bremen, you will see the route description for the usual route through Magdeburg and Hanover, including all the turbulence that occurred along the way. However, the information is relevant only before the start of the trip. The app is unable to dynamically give turn instructions (“turn by turn” commands) while driving.

There are no alternative methods: The app also cannot suggest alternative routes in real time, for example to respond to the complete closure of the A2 near Magdeburg, as has been the case recently. Rather than recalculating the route and showing the alternative via the A24 via Hamburg, the app indicated only in this specific case that a delay of more than three hours should be planned for the route via the A2. Using Maps from Google, Apple, TomTom and other providers, on the other hand, users were properly directed to the alternate route.

Cannot be operated while driving: The application has been created in such a way that it is impossible to use it while driving. There is no voice control for this. There are also no plans to integrate into Google’s Apple CarPlay or Android Auto systems, which securely bring smartphone apps to the infotainment screens of modern cars. If you want to operate the Autobahn app while driving, you need a passenger or you have to stop in a parking lot to browse the app safely. Users’ reservations can also be seen in the ratings. The app has a score of 2.4 out of five stars on the App Store and 2.9 out of five stars on the Google Play Store.

Access to webcams along the highway has been turned off

The most important function has been discontinued, which is access to webcams along the highway: However, in the latest reviews it is often given only 1 star because Autobahn GmbH has discontinued a popular function. At first, users were able to get an idea of ​​the traffic situation from hundreds of webcams along highways. Now it just shows an error message: “Due to the current developments in Europe, we have decided to deactivate webcam images until further notice.” This means that the app has “become useless,” according to the review.

Cash directed to the Autobahn app in stores has also reached the Bitkom Digital Association. “Federal highway implementation does not meet expectations,” says Bernard Rollier, CEO of Bitkom. It does not offer any recognizable added value compared to the current offers, such as avoiding traffic jams or displaying the nearest gas station. This is also shown by user ratings in the app stores.”

How the application will continue in the future is uncertain

In principle, Rohleder said, it is welcome for the public sector to develop digital offerings. “However, these should be based on people’s needs and, above all, start where there are no corresponding specials.” Rather than developing an end product for the customer such as an end-to-end application, it would be more promising to use basic data such as construction sites, to provide shipping options for electronic cars or the current flow of traffic to third parties in a way that this information can be easily integrated into existing offerings. “More citizens will benefit directly from this.”

However, Autobahn GmbH does not want to abandon the concept of the application and has chosen a new target group: “The application provides all truck drivers with many options for fast and efficient navigation,” says Imo von Valois, Head of Communications. A quick overview is integrated into the app for “Brummis” at the start of summer vacation. The app provides information about which roads are affected by the holiday driving ban on Saturdays in July and August and what alternative routes exist; It is also intended to assist in the search for a parking space.

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It remains to be seen whether the concept of the heavily criticized app will fundamentally change again: “After the app has been available for more than a year, we are currently reviewing the future listing of the offering,” explains Autobahn GmbH. “The new version of the Autobahn app will be available by the end of the year.”