Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
Opinions are divided in this space, but Waze has become a very effective way to avoid getting a ticket. I won't comment much on how drivers use Waze, but I've seen more drivers than I can count slow down before a posted speed camera and then speed past the speed limit.
Waze also warns you about traffic cameras, and as I recently explained in a longer article, the app is incredibly useful, especially when you’re driving on an unfamiliar route.
Speed cameras may be there to punish speeders, but someone going too fast may be surprised when they see them, causing them to slam on their brakes. This reaction leads to a higher risk of accidents for the car behind, and the chain reaction could cause an even higher risk of an accident for the vehicles following.
Receiving a speed camera notification on your screen gives drivers more time to react, allowing them to slow down or adjust their speed before approaching the reported location.
Photo: autoevolution
In addition to speed cameras, Waze also warns you about red light cameras. Many people are surprised to see them at intersections, sometimes reacting the same way as speeding drivers. While some red light cameras do measure your speed, most should detect when you run a red light and automatically issue a ticket.
However, sudden braking by the driver has the same consequences explained above, so sending notifications to users is a way to make the roads safer.
Waze warns users in two different ways. On the one hand, the app displays the warnings on the map, so you can see the speed camera icon as you approach its location. This is especially useful if you regularly look at the screen (even though you shouldn't), because you have even more time to slow down.
On the other hand, you also get a warning while driving, so you will hear a voice message and see a notification on the screen. These two are activated when you are close to the speed camera, and this is usually the time when you should start slowing down.
Photo: autoevolution
The Google-owned company has added dedicated settings to allow you to disable red light camera alerts in Waze, so you don’t receive these notifications when you approach the marked locations. These settings are useful for users who want a quieter navigation experience and don’t mind these notifications, so you can disable both alerts from the settings screen.
Here's where you can find these settings: Remember, these steps apply to both Android and iOS versions of Waze; changes you make on your mobile device will also be reflected on Android Auto and CarPlay.
In Waze, go to Settings > Alerts & Reports > Reports. This is the menu where you can enable and disable each type of report in the application. However, some reports are grouped into a broader category, such as speed bumps. Waze considers speed bumps to be a “permanent road feature,” so it has created a category with the same name. Users who wish to disable speed bump notifications should disable alerts for all permanent road features.
The next step is to expand the “Red light cameras” section, where you will find two options. The “show on map” item refers to the option to see alerts on the map when you are driving to your destination. “Alert while driving” is for on-screen notifications and audio alerts when you are already closer to the red light camera.
Waze offers quick toggles for both options, so you can tap them to turn off alerts based on your preferences. They are enabled by default on Android and iPhone.
Photo: autoevolution
Meanwhile, Waze continues to improve and the incident reporting system has been enriched with features that make the road safer and more predictable for every user.
For example, I'm a big fan of speed bump notifications, even though they can get annoying at times, and speed limit changes. Whenever you're traveling with Waze on your screen, the app can notify you if you're approaching a location where the speed limit drops.
This is incredibly useful for long trips on unfamiliar routes, as you can adjust your speed to the upcoming speed limit without waiting for a road sign to appear. I recently used Waze on a long road trip and found this feature to be a huge help, especially since there were times when the road signs were missing and didn’t give me enough time to slow down without suddenly braking (and thus causing a greater risk of an accident, as explained above).
You can get all of these features by updating to the latest versions of Waze, and they’re also available on Android Auto and CarPlay if you run the app with your smartphone connected to your car. Waze is also available on Android Automotive, but most of the experience is powered by the settings you make on your mobile device.