anybody use waze for navigation

[OBLAMA2009]

inni buddy here us waze for navigation. i see it being used by my local tv station for traffic reports but someone told me today that it is actually full turn by turn navigation. how does it compare to googles navigation software?

 

[Gerle]

It's good, especially the traffic and hazards updates. The turn by turn navigation is not as good as Google's I think, slightly less guidance provided. Still worthwhile!

Edit: having said that, on the way home from work today it gave me much better directions than ever before, I think it was updated one or two days ago.

 

[TuxDave]

Prior to iOS6, Waze was pretty much my goto for turn-by-turn navigation on my iPhone. I've been pretty pleased with it and as Gerle mentioned, traffic and hazard crowd sourced data is pretty good.

It doesn't have all the fancy offline modes that Google has. Traffic data is probably comparable.

Edit "inni buddy"... really?

 

[ControlD]

I use Waze and generally like it. I don't think it does a super job of helping you out once you have made a wrong turn, but the social part of it (cop locations, etc.) is awesome. I think the real focus of Waze is for use in commuting back and forth on your normal routes to avoid traffic delays, speed traps, etc. When it comes to that it really shines.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Prior to iOS6, Waze was pretty much my goto for turn-by-turn navigation on my iPhone. I've been pretty pleased with it and as Gerle mentioned, traffic and hazard crowd sourced data is pretty good.

It doesn't have all the fancy offline modes that Google has. Traffic data is probably comparable.

Edit "inni buddy"... really?

i havent had a chance to use it in my car yet but it looks like they pin a lot of stuff on the maps, which might make them hard to look at. i like the way they put "hidden" and unhidden cops on the maps, dat cood be a real lifesava'

 

[master7045]

I use it all the time w/ my route to and from work. There are about 3 different highways I can take and any one can be significantly shorter based on traffic/accidents. I agree w/ what others have said though, it's not the quickest at re-routing you if you go off course though. Overall, I love it (which is less than gotta have it).

 

[dingster1]

I like it. I think it does ok when you make a wrong turn. Gaven't really used the social aspects of it though

 

[twc42]

New member here who found this forum as a result of a Google search on opinions of Waze. I have been trying hard to like it (using it on my Rezound), but it is not dependable. There are several locations in our ticket hungry county where speed cameras have been in place for months and are not reported on Waze, whereas a car on the shoulder pops up almost immediately. I have stopped alongside a speed camera, reported it to Waze, and weeks later it is still not shown. I have tried unsuccessfully to fix a mapping error in our neighborhood (remove a section of roadway that does not exist). Twice, the app froze up on a two hour trip. It's almost a case of information overload, with many errors.
My main concern is the proliferation of speed cameras and red light cameras in our county. I've been comparing Waze to CamSam, and I'm much more satisfied with the operation and reliability of CamSam. As the only app running, it has a plain unobtrusive display with a green arrow until one approaches an area with a speed camera or a red light camera. CamSam then provides both an audible warning and a visual warning that one is approaching the camera. If used in conjunction with Google Navigation, one only hears the audible warning. With Waze, one might be warned of police activity (radar, on shoulder,etc.). CamSam does not have this feature, nor does it provide any traffic information.

 

[gorcorps]

New member here who found this forum as a result of a Google search on opinions of Waze. I have been trying hard to like it (using it on my Rezound), but it is not dependable. There are several locations in our ticket hungry county where speed cameras have been in place for months and are not reported on Waze, whereas a car on the shoulder pops up almost immediately. I have stopped alongside a speed camera, reported it to Waze, and weeks later it is still not shown. I have tried unsuccessfully to fix a mapping error in our neighborhood (remove a section of roadway that does not exist). Twice, the app froze up on a two hour trip. It's almost a case of information overload, with many errors.
My main concern is the proliferation of speed cameras and red light cameras in our county. I've been comparing Waze to CamSam, and I'm much more satisfied with the operation and reliability of CamSam. As the only app running, it has a plain unobtrusive display with a green arrow until one approaches an area with a speed camera or a red light camera. CamSam then provides both an audible warning and a visual warning that one is approaching the camera. If used in conjunction with Google Navigation, one only hears the audible warning. With Waze, one might be warned of police activity (radar, on shoulder,etc.). CamSam does not have this feature, nor does it provide any traffic information.

So your goal is an app that allows you to break the law in the areas where you can? Why don't you just, you know, drive at the proper speed?

 

[twc42]

So your goal is an app that allows you to break the law in the areas where you can? Why don't you just, you know, drive at the proper speed?

Try driving in Montgomery County, MD for a while. A 50 mph speed limit drops to 40 mph for one block (Olney, MD, to be specific) and then the next block it is 30 mph with a speed camera right there. Causes many near accidents with folks slamming on their brakes when they see the camera. A warning would be nice.
One approaches a traffic light, at the legal speed limit. It turns yellow. It's a judgement call whether to slam on the brakes or legally roll through on the yellow. But Montgomery County is known to play games with the duration of the yellow, making it shorter than normal. On wet pavement, it is a dangerous situation with some deciding to go through and others slamming on the brakes for fear there's a red light camera at that intersection. A warning is nice, gives one a heads up.
You don't know me and you don't know how I drive. I've been driving for over 50 years and have NEVER been stopped by a police officer for speeding. But I deplore these unreasonably placed speed cameras that are designed to bring in as much money as they can to the county under the guise of slowing down drivers. Proof of the County's intent with these cameras was a statement from the County Executive that after a few months of being installed they are not getting the revenue from them because people have learned where they are.
I get so sick of self-righteous people. If this is the kind of response I can expect on this forum, I'm out of here.

 

[Red Storm]

I used Waze once. It tried to put me on a one way road in DC, against traffic. That was when I had an iPhone 4. Not coincidentally, that was also when I switched back to Android and Google Nav.

 

[MrX8503]

I don't like it. Too many damn pop ups. How are you supposed to drive safely?

 

[OBLAMA2009]

I used Waze once. It tried to put me on a one way road in DC, against traffic. That was when I had an iPhone 4. Not coincidentally, that was also when I switched back to Android and Google Nav.

i did notice myself that the waze maps occasionally had blank/unfilled blocks of san francisco for no reason at all, which was weird

 

[NutBucket]

I've been using it for about 2 months now and have been quite satisfied with the results. It makes a big difference for my commute home. I already had a number of routes I was using but it used other routes and seems to have "normalized" my commute time which is nice. It will also route me to the freeway when I wouldn't even consider using it...and yet I'll end up saving time.

So far the only feature I wish it had was the ability to set time restrictions for left turns. Also, the fact that it cannot distinguish between HOV lanes and normal traffic lanes probably contributes to traffic being falsely reported.

But compared to Google Nav the traffic info and user input/data makes it second to none for commuting.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Bump.

any android users? I doubt it, but according to all my friends its way better than Google Nav in terms of routing for traffic. In cities like San Francisco, it teaches you about synced lights and stuff.

I'm not a huge fan simply because i theory Google Maps should have traffic data and relies on crowdsource traffic data. Unless Waze has a larger userbase where I am, Google Maps should give pretty good data too. The only difference I see is that in Waze you can user report accidents and stuff, so road blockages and accidents are reported quicker.

I really don't know though. Perhaps what I need to do is put my iPhone on Waze and my Android on Google Maps and then go through traffic.

 

[Gerle]

Android user. Still happy with it, but I was happy with Google Nav too.

 

[bamx2]

Android -I like it but agree that the popups are distracting . I would like to have the option to disable them .

 

[Gerle]

In Settings General you can change the event radius, I wonder if that would reduce the number of events popping up.

 

[NutBucket]

It reduces the number of pop ups but as far as I can tell there's no way to completely disable them.

EDIT: Android user

 

[bamx2]

RE: Waze -Traffic alert popups. There is a way to disable them but it slighty alters other functions . Not a great solution for me but might be ok for someone else - see- http://www.waze.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20573&start=30

 

[WelshBloke]

So your goal is an app that allows you to break the law in the areas where you can? Why don't you just, you know, drive at the proper speed?

No need to be a dick about this.

I thought one of the main advantages touted about waze was the speed camera thing?

 

[glen]

Android user
Great idea, but it seems a bit buggy to me, and the interface is not very smooth.
A major road is closes here, but I cannot report it via phone or web. The phone will only let me report some VERY near my current locattion, which is a mile past the road closure. Of course, I could not report it while driving, so now that I am in a safe place, I want to report it.

Via PC, there are other problems. Clicking "I forgot my passoword" emails a user name to me, not the passowrd.

 

[Anonemous]

Love Waze, lets you know where the speedtraps and police are on your route.

 

[CA19100]

Why don't you just, you know, drive at the proper speed?

He is driving at the proper speed. He's trying to avoid being fined for improper speed limits.

 

[jpeyton]

I use Google Maps for navigation, but I keep Waze running to take advantage of crowd-sourced data on speed traps and traffic cameras. Paired with my 9500ix and laser jammers, I feel confident in my countermeasures.

I also like reporting traffic cops when I can. Beats flashing your headlights.

Obviously not everyone has a smartphone, or is using Waze, but I have to wonder at what point will police start seeing a reduction in fines collected because of apps like Waze? Not that I care one bit, traffic cops can FOAD.