A new report indicates that Waze may be working on an addition that aims to offer more information regarding local traffic, and it’s one that Google Maps has had for a while now.
Despite being used entirely for driving, the Waze app doesn’t offer many of the same features seen on Google Maps, including showing traffic lights to users. That could soon change as, according to a report from the publication Geektime, Waze is currently testing the feature for drivers in Israel.
According to the report, when using the app to navigate, users can see up to three of the nearest traffic lights at a time. However, if you’re driving around without a specific destination, then the app will show you all the traffic lights that are near you. This distinction is stated in the report to be an attempt to avoid having the screen get too cluttered at any one time, especially when Waze’s social icons are activated.
It is important to note that the addition is stated to still be in very early beta, with many of the traffic lights in Israel not currently being marked. So we can’t be certain when it could roll out to other users, or what form it could take in the end. We hope it's sooner rather than later, as this is a feature that could be a major help when it comes to personalizing route preferences.
As Geektime speculates, you might be able to choose a route with fewer traffic lights. Or you could receive info based on the number of lights in front of you, such as "Turn right at the second traffic light." This addition could result in more accurate arrival times as well.
Waze vs Google Maps: the eternal competition
The first thing to note when it comes to Google Maps vs Waze is that Waze is purely focused on users with a car. So, if you’re planning to take public transportation, then you’re better off with Google’s other app.
We asked Tom’s Guide readers what the strengths of Waze are compared to Google Maps. One of the most praised aspects are the social features that make traffic reports feel more trustworthy. For example, there's a fairly new “Conversational Reporting” feature that upgrades the existing voice controls for incident reporting by integrating Google Gemini, letting you do it more naturally.
Other users praise Waze’s capability to learn your driving habits and the option to quickly pull up the upcoming direction sequence for your journey.
Of course, Google Maps is no slouch, especially after the addition of four massive new features back in November that integrate Gemini into the app as well as help to EV drivers. Meanwhile, Waze recently added an offline mode that helps you to keep on track when you’re out of signal areas.
From my point of view, I tend to think of Waze as the better driving tool, and this new addition for traffic lights only enhances that. Let us know in the comments what you think and which app you find yourself using more.
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