…. meanwhile, on the M40, my husband and I discovered an exceptionally good and useful traffic information app called Waze.
It’s a real-time based traffic information service, contributed to by normal folk on the roads, who send reports back about accidents and incidents. It is outstanding. We boggled as we came verily upon the accident exactly where the little map said it would be. We marvelled at how the app correctly predicted that the traffic jam would switch to the OTHER side of the road after the accident.
Great stuff – it’s at times like this that the internet really earns its keep.
It doesn’t predict – well, it does, but it also doesn’t just work on people reporting things. It’s also scanning your velocity and other information in real-time, as it is with all other Waze users. So as soon as Waze users on the other side of the road start to slow down, the system detects that and reports it to you as a slowdown. Clever, eh?
so clever. blows my tiny mind man
I gave up on Waze a while back. Anyone can edit the map and it’s possible to accidentally break it by messing up junction layouts or making roads one way that shouldn’t be.
Google now take traffic information from Waze I believe, and doesn’t have the same problem because any changes are reviewed properly before they’re made part of the real map.
John you know too much
Just a data point, but I’ve only had good experience with it (in London, the home counties and a couple of bits of the US).
I like The Spike. I’ve just downloaded Waze and I’m being given an Aeropress for Christmas. You’re so influential. Or I’m easily influenced. Or both. x
I highly recommend changing the settings to “boy band.” You haven’t lived until you’ve heard a tinny robot voice sing “Police reported ahead!”
I’ve downloaded this – have yet to find it useful from a traffic point of view, but find it cathartic to tell everyone else when I am sitting in a queue. Not sure that’s its real purpose though!!