Google-owned Waze now offers "Crash History Alerts" to notify users of accident-prone routes. By warning users as they approach crash-prone locations, an AI-driven technology seeks to increase driving safety.
The new Waze feature's patented AI algorithm evaluates past crash data while taking into account a variety of road factors, including traffic volume, elevation, kind of route (local or freeway), and curves, as per a TechCrunch report.
The technology may identify routes with a greater chance of accidents by integrating these data with reports from Waze's large user community, which reports incidents about every two seconds.
In actuality, the Waze Crash History Alerts advise users when they plan a route if it passes across a stretch of road with a track record of accidents. This notice gives drivers useful information so they can plan their journey wisely.
AI and Human Users Collaborate for Road Safety
Waze has limited the frequency of these Crash History Alerts, particularly for routes that users often travel, to prevent them from becoming a distraction. This method helps drivers concentrate and stay calm, particularly on unknown routes.
"Thanks to AI and reports from the Waze community, crash history alerts combine historical crash data and key information about your route, such as its typical traffic levels, whether it's a highway or local road, elevation, and more. If your route includes a crash-prone road, we'll show you an alert before you reach that section of your journey. To minimize distractions, we limit the number of alerts drivers see and don't show them on roads they regularly navigate," the firm noted in its blog.
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Waze has a track record of delivering safety improvements that make driving more enjoyable. In the past, the app offered alternate routes to avoid traffic jams and real-time accident data. It also provided advice and cues to assist drivers in getting ready for impending lane changes and exits.
Promoting Smart Decisions
Over the last 10 years, Waze and Google have integrated, which has made it easier for the two platforms to share features, according to The Verge. Google Maps benefited from Waze's speedometer and incident reporting tools, and Waze also incorporated Google Maps' lane recommendations.
The company's goal has been to improve user safety with cutting-edge technologies, and the Crash History Alerts function is evidence of its dedication to making driving safer. Waze helps people drive more safely by minimizing accidents and providing information about potentially hazardous road stretches.
"At Waze, we believe driving goes beyond just transportation; it's about helping every driver make smart decisions on the road. By continuing to bring more safety features to your rides, Waze aims to give greater peace of mind on every one of your drives," the company stated.
Addressing the global problem of road safety is important since traffic accidents account for a significant portion of deaths and injuries that occur globally. Tools like crash history alerts are crucial to saving lives and preventing accidents since, according to Waze, 3,700 people die daily in road accidents.
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