Waze, the Google-owned navigation app known for its real-time traffic updates and community-driven insights, is rolling out a suite of new features designed to make your driving experience safer, smoother, and more informed.
The suite of features, meant to roll out throughout 2024, ranges from advanced guidance for navigating tricky roundabouts to real-time alerts for upcoming speed limit changes and detailed parking information. This is part of a trend from Waze’s attempts to use AI to enhance its safety features like Google Maps.
Just recently in November, the company added a feature that warns users of roads with a history of crashes.
Here’s a breakdown of what to expect on the Waze app in the coming weeks and months:
1. Navigating Roundabouts
Roundabouts seem to be a foreign concept many Americans; as such, Waze is introducing a new feature that assist drivers with navigating roundabouts more effectively.
Using input provided by locals in your area, the app will provide clear guidance on when to enter, the correct lane to choose, and where to exit roundabouts. This update will arrive some time this year starting with Android users before rolling out to iOS devices later this year.
2. Safety Alerts for First Responders
One of the more interesting updates from Waze is the inclusion of advance alerts for drivers when emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, are stopped along their route.
Credit: Waze
This feature aims to improve safety for both drivers and first responders. It’s also a warning that you might be stuck on the highway for a long time.
This update is available now to both Android and iOS users, but only in select countries at the moment.
3. Speed Limit Alerts
The app will now alert drivers when a speed limit decrease is upcoming along their route.
Credit: Waze
This is a helpful feature for users hoping to evade tickets due to ill-conceived speed traps along the road. Coming some time this month, this update is being rolled out globally to all Android and iOS users.
4. Local Navigation Alerts
Using the power of its dedicated community of drivers, Waze plans to enhance its hazard alerts to include warnings about sharp curves, speed bumps, and toll booths. Along with speed alerts, this update is rolling out globally this month and is available to all Android and iOS users.
5. Parking Information
In collaboration with Flash, Waze is expanding its parking features to offer detailed information about parking garages, including cost, coverage, accessibility, valet options, and the availability of EV charging stations.
Credit: Waze
Users will also be able to reserve parking spaces directly through the app.
This feature will be available in the coming weeks for over 30,000 parking garages in the U.S. and Canada, including major cities.
6. Route Information
Rolling out for all devices this month, Waze is making it easier for drivers to access information about their favorite routes, including live traffic updates and delays. This feature allows users to compare their preferred routes with alternative ones to make informed decisions about their travel.