Waze Tests Alerting Drivers on Roads with Statistically High Crash Occurrence

A new beta testing has been rolled out by Waze that warns drivers about roads with a history of crashes and dangerous roads based on Waze community traffic data. By doing this, the navigation app aims to alert the drivers while trying not to overwhelm them to avoid panic. 

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KNUTSFORD, UNITED KINGDOM – SEPTEMBER 28: The Waze smartphone navigation app displays nearby fuel prices at petrol stations on September 28, 2021 in Knutsford, United Kingdom. The British government has temporarily exempted the oil industry from the Competition Act 1998, which will allow companies to share information and target fuel deliveries in parts of the country where retail supply is lowest. The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) has said that fuel prices have also hit an eight year high due to the crisis with a 136.59p GBP average per litre of petrol.

Waze Tests New Alerts for Dangerous Roads

Drivers rely on the best navigation applications especially when they are unfamiliar with the roads they are driving in. Aside from its plenty of unique offerings, Waze tests a new feature for drivers’ safeness in the road.

The beta testing has rolled out to alert drivers when there are dangerous roads ahead, as reported by The Verge. The roads will be claimed by the app as dangerous based on its high history of crashes and accidents on Waze community data. 

Roads will be indicated with a red marked that will also give a notification when nearby. But as per the report, only one pop-up notification will be sent in an effort of the navigation application to keep the drivers and passengers from turning anxious. 

Several countries will have this beta testing around the world. To know if you have access, you will get a pop-up once you open Waze that states “using reports from drivers and your route, you may see alerts for ‘History of crashes’ on some roads.”

While this may be convenient, XDA-Developers reported that this does not seem to indicate these kinds of problems when traveling on routes that are normally traveled by drivers and passengers. Hence, Waze should not only depend on their own data but also need to keep in touch with the authorities to give light to the unknown routes. 

Managing the Feature

Android Police reported that these alerts can be turned off as it is completely optional to everybody. Under the Notifications and Reports section of the settings, a new section called History of Traffic Accidents can be seen where users can toggle on or off the feature.

Also Read: Waze Carpool to Officially Stop Operations in September

Merging with Google

This is one of the features that came out of Waze since the company joined forces into the group that oversees Google Maps earlier this month. Despite the two applications having the same offerings, Google clarified that this does not mean that the apps will merge as well.

Waze and Google Maps will remain two separate applications, and will only merge their teams as part of their cost-cutting efforts. Through this, a reduction of duplicated work across the products is expected. 

Google spokesperson stated, “Google remains deeply committed to Waze’s unique brand, its beloved app, and its thriving community of volunteers and users.” As the company brings Waze to the team with Google Maps, Google Earth, and Street View, all of them will benefit from collaborations.

Related Article: Google is Attempting to Merge Teams From Maps, Waze as Part of Cost-Cutting Operation

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