Google’s Waze now warns drivers about accident-prone roads

• Google has announced a new AI feature for its community-driven navigation app to improve road safety.

• The feature warns drivers of accident-prone roads in advance, allowing them to plan ahead.

• Formerly known as FreeMap Israel, Waze was acquired by Google in 2013 for $1.3 billion.

Google has introduced a new AI feature in its community-run navigation app Waze that warns drivers of accident-prone roads in advance to improve road safety announced in a blog post on Tuesday.

Waze, formerly known as FreeMap Israel, was founded in 2006 and acquired by Google in 2013 for $1.3 billion. It is a Community-oriented traffic and navigation app which provides real-time updates on hazards, accidents, speed cameras and weather conditions based on data provided by drivers.

The latest Accident History Alerts feature uses AI and reports from other drivers using Waze to combine historical accident data and key information about a route, such as usual traffic volume or whether it is a highway or a local road.

If there have been accidents on the route in the past, the driver will be warned in advance before reaching that part of their journey so they can plan ahead.

However, Waze doesn’t display as many warnings on roads that drivers regularly navigate, saying the additional warnings could be a distraction.

Waze focuses on social interactions between drivers, allowing users to chat directly with their friends, comment on traffic accidents on the map, and even connect to music streaming accounts.

The app allows users to earn points and achieve different levels of Waze Baby, Wazer, Waze Knight and Waze Royalty.

Traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of death worldwide and in the United States. according to CDC. Almost 3,700 people die every day in accidents involving vehicles such as cars, buses and motorcycles and it is the eighth leading cause of death worldwide.

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