Very nice app, btw. Thank for you creating and sharing it. We have the same issue with our family, we want to stop but don't know what's coming and if we should wait for something better or not. So the non-driving person is in charge of scouting ahead on their phone on the map for restaurants and gas stations.
I think with the left vs right, it might be just a regional / cultural thing. Left exits are frowned up or just not allowed and many places (and for good reason) so people may not be familiar with them.