What Is Waze and How Does It Work? GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Smart & Connected Life > Connected Car Tech 534 534 people found this article helpful
What Is Waze and How Does It Work?
All about the free crowd-sourced traffic app
By Scott Orgera Scott Orgera Writer Scott Orgera is a former Lifewire writer covering tech since 2007. He has 25+ years' experience as a programmer and QA leader, and holds several Microsoft certifications including MCSE, MCP+I, and MOUS. He is also A+ certified. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 2, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Connected Car Tech Navigation Android Auto Apple CarPlay Waze is a community-driven GPS and navigational app that guides you through the shortest route possible while driving. It works on a smartphone and can help you find directions and avoid traffic jams. It provides real-time directions that are adjusted on-the-fly to account for various types of potential obstacles. The Waze app is available for iOS and Android. How Does Waze Work
There are plenty of GPS-driven apps and software to choose from, including options that may have come pre-installed in your car's dashboard interface or on your mobile device like Google Maps and MapQuest. Most do a respectable job when it comes to step-by-step navigation. Some account for congestion and other factors that could affect your overall drive time. Waze handles things a bit differently. It relies on the power of the people to steer you down the right roads. With over 100 million users sharing noteworthy information about what they encounter along the way, Waze stays constantly updated about anything that could slow your progress. Input from other drivers, known as Wazers, lets the app alert you to important items such as construction, police activity, accidents, and minor things to look out for like potholes and disabled cars on the shoulder. Waze uses all this information seamlessly to predict accurate arrival times and tailor turn-based directions as you drive, helping you travel both city and rural roads with confidence. The app is highly customizable, letting you select from a 2D or 3D display and from one of the dozens of voices across almost all popular languages. If you aren't satisfied with any of the voices provided, Waze lets you record your voice for directional playback purposes. You can also adjust driving preference, including avoiding tolls, highways, and other elements. The Social Aspects of Waze
Waze is powered by the masses, and the app encourages social interaction beyond just warning others of a three-car pileup or hidden speed trap. By integrating with Facebook, you can choose to share your location with friends and view their progress if you're heading toward the same destination. This feature also helps you see if anyone you know is nearby. You can send a message or a virtual beep of the horn to other drivers in the area, providing the ability to make new friends along the way. The social nature of Waze can save you money, as its compendium of user-shared gas prices allows you to find the cheapest fuel in your neighborhood.
Improving the Urban Landscape with Waze Data
The information gathered by Waze has proven invaluable for drivers and for city planners, transportation departments, and first responders. Taking into account the volume of data collected on a daily basis, these organizations are able to work with Waze to design new infrastructure while avoiding congestion, plot the most efficient routes for incident response, and efficiently reroute traffic during fluid situations. By using Waze, you're helping yourself and other drivers, and you might make a difference in improving how your city or town functions. Is Waze Down... Or Is It Just You? Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Add Waze to Apple CarPlay The 6 Best GPS Apps for iPhone of 2022 How to Enable Waze Voice Commands Waze Navigation vs Google Maps What Android Auto Is and How to Use It The 8 Best Google Maps Alternatives of 2022 How to Use Waze in Android Auto How to Use Waze to Play Spotify Should You Buy a Dash Cam? Is Waze Down... Or Is It Just You? The 5 Best Gas Apps to Help You Save at the Pump Which iPad Models Have Built-In GPS? Best Free GPS Turn-By-Turn Navigation Apps What Is GPS and How Does It Work? How to Avoid Toll Roads With GPS Apps GPS Smartphone Apps vs. Dedicated Car GPS Devices Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies