Distances are completely wrong in Apple maps

I have noticed a consistent problem with Apple Maps for years, and I’m surprised that nobody has ever asked this question.

When I do an initial search for my friend, Apple Maps shows that my friend is 39 miles away. However, when I click on directions, it shows that she is 51 miles away. These distances can be quite significant.

This issue has caused me to be late to appointments, especially if it was a place I’d been before and I didn’t need to route it.

I understand that it is an “as the crow flies” distance that just shows the shortest distance between my friend and I, but that’s useless information. Most people using Apple Maps probably are driving, so wouldn’t it make sense to show the distance as a driving distance as the default? Or allow the user to actually choose which distance they would like shown. In my case, 39 miles is completely useless information. The 51 miles and the estimated time on the shortest route is the most important information.

but for another person, the walking distance might be most important, or the biking distance.