Popular navigation application Waze has started testing a new update that will allow drivers to report traffic incidents with voice commands. Waze, owned by Google, aims to provide a practical method for drivers to notify people, especially in situations such as traffic congestion, accidents and road works. Thanks to this feature, users will be able to report events to Waze by pressing a single button and expressing them in natural language. For example, short phrases such as “It looks like there is an accident ahead” or “There is an obstacle” will suffice.
The new feature will create a report by detecting what drivers say, thanks to Google’s artificial intelligence model Gemini. When users do not provide clear information, Waze aims to get detailed information by asking additional questions. For example, for vague statements such as “There is something on the road,” the application might ask, “What exactly did you see?” He will try to clarify the situation by asking a question like this. In this way, drivers will be able to make notifications without having to deal with traffic manually, and incidents on the road will be reported with more accurate categories.
Waze currently requires users to select options one by one from menus within the app for event notifications. This is not considered a safe and practical method, especially while driving. The voice command feature aims to increase safety by allowing drivers to make notifications without distracting them. This innovation will be available first in English on Android and iOS devices this week and only to “trusted testers”. However, it is stated that Waze plans to open this feature to wider audiences and different languages soon.
Waze plans map updates for school districts
In addition to the voice command feature, Waze is also planning map updates for school zones to improve driver safety. Towards the end of this year, school zones will be marked all over the world and drivers will be warned to be more careful in these areas. Information will be provided about measures such as complying with the speed limit in school zones and giving priority to pedestrians. Thanks to these warnings, drivers will be encouraged to drive safer, especially during school hours when children are busy.
Waze, used by millions of drivers around the world, draws attention with these innovations developed to increase the security of users. While the voice notification feature offers drivers a faster and more practical usage experience, map updates for school zones aim to contribute to social safety. The plan to adapt the voice command feature to different languages shows that Waze aims to be not only a navigation application but also an active solution partner in driving safety.