Gov’t embraces Waze

Waze, the popular app used by drivers to flag police presence and speed enforcement on the roads, is now being tapped by the Government to help manage traffic on the nation’s roads.

The National Works Agency (NWA) has officially partnered with Google to use the navigation app to provide motorists with real-time, verified information on traffic and road works.

The partnership is expected to help commuters plan their daily routes, particularly during peak hours when traffic volumes surge.

Stephen Shaw, manager of communication and customer services at the NWA, said the partnership will strengthen the agency’s communication with road users by delivering vetted information directly to motorists while helping to combat unverified traffic reports.

With schools now reopened and traffic volumes increasing along major corridors and in urban centres, Shaw said motorists will have access to live traffic data and recommended detour routes to avoid bottlenecks and reduce commuting times.

Under the partnership, the NWA will feed official operational information into Waze on planned road closures, traffic diversions, active construction zones, traffic signal disruptions, and emergency road hazards.