If you are used to Google Maps, you have surely noticed that the application continues to evolve with new features. Already very comprehensive for navigation, searching for addresses or transport routes, it will soon go even further to make your car journeys easier.
Google has just announcedthe upcoming integration of speed camera reports directly from Waze, its second GPS guidance application.
No more stress when seeing a police check
Concretely, this new feature will change your life on the road. When you follow a route on Google Maps,alerts may appearto warn you that speed cameras have been reported further along your route. You will then be able to adapt your driving accordingly and avoid unpleasant surprises.
These reports will come in real time from the community of Waze users, an app known for its participatory mapping.When a “Wazer” spots a traffic stop, he can report it in two clicksto warn other drivers.This information will now be shared automatically with Google Maps,without you needing to switch applications.
You become a player in road safety
However, sharing does not only go in one direction! If you are guided by Google Maps and you approach an area where a check has been reported,the app will ask you to confirm if it is still in place. With a simple press of “Yes” or “No”, you will participate in updating the information for better reliability:
©9to5google
It's a win-win: the very large base of Google Maps users (2 billion compared to 151 million for Waze) participates in reporting, and the responsiveness of Wazers will benefit the precision of the alerts.
Ultimately, other types of incidents such as accidents or vehicles stopped on the roadway could also be shared between the two platforms. With this data fusion, Google Maps takes another step towards becomingthe ultimate driving assistant.
