Driving down Perkins doing 50 in a 35, rushing to make it to class then suddenly a rush of adrenaline fills your body as you try and slow down as the outline of a police cruiser overtakes your rearview mirror.
However, a new mobile app was recently created to help drivers avoid situations such as these.
Waze, is the new popular app where users drive with the app open and it will inform you on any accident, police traps, or other things you need to that may interrupt you while on your daily commute or road trip.
“I travel a lot and it has saved me on numerous occasions where construction was a big factor and I was able to check Waze, and it saved me over 4 hours of time,” U of M alumni, Fred Norman, said. “I wasn't always this fortunate, once I was stuck in horrific traffic. I was sitting in traffic for over 4 hours in the traffic traveling from Memphis to Dallas, but that will not happen again. Thanks to Waze.”
Users use a map of a geographic area, which there are free to edit, to report anything that will interrupt your drive time. On the map small icons are like pinpoints, and each lets you know what is happening on that street.
To report on the app the users clicks the corresponding icon and picture from the options. For example if you wanted to report traffic on Central Avenue you would click the traffic icon and then click whether it is heavy, moderate, or standstill traffic. Then you press send, and it is posted to notify other Waze users.
According the Waze website the idea behind the app was conceived because one of the founders, Ehud Shabtai, was not every good at navigation. Then after getting a GPS, Shabtai had great ideas on how to improve the system and Waze was given life.
The purpose behind the app is focused on contributing to the common good out on the road.
Waze works by connecting drivers to each other and creating a local driving community that help the communities’ daily drive. This induces helping the community to avoid police speed traps or taking time off of their daily commute buy show them new routes to follow.
“I haven't gotten a ticket in some time now,” said Norman. “Because I have been using Waze. My licenses could have been revoked by now. In the past I averaged 1-2 tickets for speeding each and every quarter, speeder, but I am determined to not have my driving privilege taken away.”
Despite the love that users have for the app, it has drawn some controversy because of one if it most loved features.
The app lets users post the location of polices officers in the area and police officers are worried and say that the mobile app could put the lives of officers in danger for possible cop killers to easily know there location.
However, frequent Waze user and U of M student does not agree.
“I don't think Waze compromises police officers,” Ben Hubbard, 21 of Collierville, said. “I think police are doing their job by watching the roads, if someone has fore warning of a speed trap, they will slow down and prevent the officer from pulling them over and save themselves a ticket. Everyone turns out okay. If the police can be sneaky in hiding, why can't we get an advantage and know where they are ahead of time? ”
