Thanks to Waze, drivers can now know just how cursed the roads they’re driving on are. The Google-owned GPS app released new safety features Tuesday morning that warn users if the road they’re driving on has a history of car crashes—incorporating AI to analyze the route ahead of you.
So, say for example you’re at a particularly bothersome intersection or on a potentially dangerous stretch of road while heading down a mountain, Waze will send drivers a “crash alert” before they reach that segment of the road. This way, drivers can stay alert and avoid any potential accidents. According to Waze, the app will limit the number of alerts it sends to minimize distractions, especially on routes users regularly drive on.
Waze has in the past added several safety features and quality-of-life changes to its app. In 2021, the app made it easier to find cheap gas and in 2019 Waze incorporated real-time accident data to help users find alternative routes if needed. Along with Google Maps, it seems like Waze is following in the footsteps of every other app in existence in using AI to make its product better.