Waze is apopular driving navigation appthat’s owned by Google. It’s a community-based app that uses information from other Waze users to provide you with real-time traffic data, hazard warnings, accident information, speed trap locations, and more. The app uses all of this information when calculating your route so that you can avoid congestion or get a more accurate ETA if there’s been an accident en route. You can use the app on your phone, and it’s evenbuilt into some cars.
Waze now directs you to the best EV charging station for your specific car
Just enter your EV details into the Waze app and it’ll suggest the best stations on your route to visit.
Waze has announced that it’s adding six brand-new features to the app that will make it even more useful for getting you safely from A to B. Some of these features make use of the powerfulsocial aspect of the Waze appthat allows other drivers to report issues such as emergency vehicles or sharp turns on your route. Here’s what you need to know about the new Waze features and how to use them.
1How to use roundabout navigation in Waze
No more guessing the right lane
The roundabout navigation in Waze is designed to help you make the right choice of lanes as well as tell you when to get on and off the roundabout. It makes navigating unfamiliar roundabouts that much easier, so you don’t end up doing laps like the Griswolds in National Lampoon’s European Vacation. Here’s how it works.
2How to be aware of first responders in Waze
Keeping first responders safe
First responders often need to stop in the road in the case of an accident. If this is the case, and you’re unaware of the stopped vehicle ahead, it can put you and the first responders at risk. Additonally, many states in the US have laws requiring you to move over for first responder vehicles pulled over. This new feature alerts you to any emergency vehicles on your route so that you can slow down or take a different route.
3How to know when the speed limit changes in Waze
No more missing the speed limit sign
Sometimes the same stretch of road can have different speed limits in different locations. It’s easy to miss a speed limit sign and put yourself at risk of getting a speed ticket. This new feature informs you when the speed limit ahead is decreasing, so that you may adjust your speed.
4How to get warned about speed bumps and toll booths in Waze
Waze already allows you to post alerts about hazards such as potholes or broken-down vehicles so that other Waze users can stay informed. This update includes the ability to get warnings about other types of hazards, including speed bumps, toll booths, and sharp curves.
5How to find the best parking options in Waze
See prices right in the app
When you’re planning a trip, Waze can provide information about parking options close to your destination, and give you a list of options to choose from, includingthose that offer EV charging. You can then choose to navigate directly to the parking location.
6How to see information about your usual route in Waze
See your favorite way even if it’s not the best way
We all have our favorite routes when driving to familiar places. You might have a particular route that you always drive to and from work, for example. It might not be the quickest route, but it might be more scenic, or avoid speed bumps or other problems.
Sometimes, when you’re navigating, Waze will suggest different routes, and won’t include the one you like to use, because it’s not one of the optimal routes. With this new feature, Waze will also show information about your usual route, even if it isn’t the best option right now.
Q: When and where are the new Waze navigation features arriving?
All features are arriving soon, unless you’re on iOS
The emergency vehicle alerts are already available in the US, Canada, France, and Mexico on both Android and iOS, with more countries coming soon. The other new features won’t all drop at the same time, however. If you’re on iOS, you may have to wait a little longer than your Android friends do, which will only add to theAndroid vs iPhonedebate.
Expanded hazard alerts, information about your favorite routes, and speed limit alerts are rolling out globally by the end of March for both Android and iOS. Roundabout information is also rolling out in March for Android users, but iOS users will have to wait until later in the year to get this feature.
Parking information is rolling out “in the coming weeks” in the US and Canada across both Android and iOS, but there’s currently no indication that this feature will expand beyond those countries.
