It’s been a while since Waze had anything of note to report. That’s because the map-makers saved up all of the upcoming features for one big update, which is now nearing release, according to an email sent out to users this week (via u/patient_hope22). The email gave us a peek at five “new” features, set to arrive over the coming weeks — all of which were previously announced in 2024. Better late than never, we guess?
New features on the Waze
The average speeder will be glad to hear that Waze is finally adding alerts about any incoming speed decreases, handy for those trips to Durban. Warnings for speed bumps, sharp curves, and toll booths are also on the way. Both are meant to help drivers avoid severe fines as they travel the roads and… be safer, we suppose.
Waze, using its superior intellect, will begin to learn its users’ favourite routes and suggest those when heading somewhere, too. That hasn’t replaced the ‘fastest route’ option, which is still available when telling your smartphone where you’re headed.
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While this one likely won’t get much traction in South Africa, it should. Waze is helping its navigation become a little smarter by informing users which lane they’re meant to be in when faced with a circle. Europe’s circles, for example, are far more chaotic than anything even our taxis could replicate on our two-lane circles.
Finally, Waze will add more warnings for emergency vehicles stopped on a user’s route, allowing them to change course or simply deal with the inevitable traffic jam. This is headed for users in the US, Canada, Mexico, and France first, with more countries set to follow. Some users have reported these features cropping up on their devices over the past couple of weeks as Waze opted for a gradual rollout that will finish in the coming weeks.
