When you're in unfamiliar territory, a friendly face to show you the way is a godsend. Waze sets out to do just that by delivering directions and tips from fellow drivers all around you.
The app started out as a local project in Israel but sold to Google in 2013 for more than $1 billion. Waze's strength lies in its numbers: the more users who contribute, the better the information Waze provides. At last count, the service had 140 million monthly active users.
While some drivers are not happy that Waze has turned their secret backstreets into traffic-clogged thoroughfares, Waze is one of the most helpful mapping apps around. During the pandemic, it has offered services like adding medical testing centers as pins to its maps and has created special badges for stores that offer social-distancing measures like curbside pickup.
Here's how to put your familiarity with Waze in the fast lane.
Exit Strategy
Tell Waze where you're going and when you need to be there, and the Planned Drives feature will tell you when to leave. On a computer, log in to Waze and click on the Live Map. Enter your starting point and destination info and then click on the clock icon to choose Arrive By and put in the date and time that you would like to arrive. Select Save to App and you'll get a notification when it's time to leave.
On iOS and Android, first make sure that you have given Waze access to your location and have allowed notifications. Then open Waze and select My Waze > Plan a Drive > Add a Drive and then enter your destination in the search bar. Scroll down to the time you want to arrive and click Save. You'll then be directed to a page where you can select Tell Me When to Leave.
Desk to Door Directions
You can map out your drives before you leave home with Waze Live Map. Visit the Live Map on your computer, put in your destination, and click Send to Your Phone at the bottom of your screen. You'll get a QR code. Aim your phone camera at it and Waze will send you a link to your directions.
Take It to the Limit
It's hard to know your limits, or rather, the speed limit, particularly when you're driving in an unfamiliar area. But Waze can display a speedometer over the map, and it has a speed-limit feature that can alert you when you've reached it or when you've gone over it by 5%, 10%, or 15% or 5mph, 10mph, 15mph, or 20 mph over it. Go to Settings > Speedometer. To see the speedometer at all times, toggle Show on Map to On. Scroll to Show Speed Limit and Speeding Threshold to set when you want an alert and toggle on Alert When Speeding.
Don't Drive Alone
If you want people to know where you are—either for your safety or because you're that friend who always says you'll be there in five minutes and you arrive half an hour later—you can share your drive. When you've mapped out your drive, tap Share Your Drive at the bottom of the screen, and you can send your route and location with messages, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or email.
There Goes My Hero
Sometimes you're in a jam of the traffic variety; other times you're in a jam of a more urgent kind. If you're on the road and need help, go to the Report button on the main Waze screen, and select Roadside help. Tap the Emergency call button to be connected to local emergency services, select Road assistance to get a listing and easy access to roadside emergency services, or select Fellow Wazers to flag down a fellow driver.
Your Voice Is My Command
Distracted driving is dangerous driving. To minimize how much you have to look at the Waze screen, you can use Google Assistant to navigate, report, and control some functions, even on iOS. Go to Settings > Voice & Sound > Google Assistant and toggle it on. While Waze is open, you can say "OK Google" and talk to Waze. (Waze also supports Siri Shortcuts.)
Life in the Fast Lane
Until now, the ETA button didn't provide the most accurate reading if you were using the HOV lane or a toll pass that could speed you through. Now if you plan on traveling in a high-occupancy lane or using a pass, let Waze know ahead of time. Go to Settings > Toll & HOV Passes and select your route.
Guided By Voices
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If you don't like the way Waze sounds, change it. Go to Settings > Voice & Sound > Waze Voice and choose one of the standard voices, or one from a promotional tie-in.
Hit the Gas
Waze will show you gas stations along your route, along with prices. If you have preferences, go to Settings > Gas Stations. There you can choose preferred stations (especially handy if you have a loyalty card) and the type of gas, as well as sort results by price, distance, and brand.
What's Your Type?
The best route for you to take and how long it will take you to get to your destination both depend on what it is you're driving. Go to Settings > Navigation > Vehicle Type, and Waze will serve up the best info for you, whether you're driving a regular car, taxi or car service, motorcycle, or electric vehicle.
Find Your Own Waze
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Don't always take Waze's word for it. When you're given a way to get where you're going, check out other route options. Tap Routes and then select the one that looks best to you, whether it's one that doesn't take you across four lanes of traffic or into any life-threatening situations.
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