AppWatch

By: Nick Gambino

Google-owned Waze has just added a feature that allows for alternate routes to be found to help you avoid left turns into difficult intersections.

We’ve all experienced it, that one left turn that is almost impossible to get through. I have one particularly bad one I take almost every day. This particular intersection has no left turn signal and the timing on all the lights makes it next to impossible to take the turn unless you force your way through, cutting off oncoming traffic.

That’s a solution I find that works. But it’s also a solution that as a father I don’t want to use too often. Nothing like playing chicken with an 18-wheeler to make you start appreciating your offspring.

Luckily Waze has recognized this as a problem. Their new “Difficult Intersections” setting, currently available to those in Los Angeles, works to find efficient and short routes that avoid these dangerous left turns.

As long as you have this setting on it’ll work to map you around them. Though it’s impossible to avoid them all, it minimally tries to reduce the number it’ll take you to. Waze is still all about getting you to your destination with speed so if needed it’ll still take you to these intersections.

Like I said it’s only available for users in LA for now but soon will expand to New Orleans and then other major cities.

Waze is working with locals in LA as well as the city itself to identify what are deemed difficult intersections. The locals have provided lists of what they felt would fall into this category while the city worked to help them understand the area better.

LA’s Chief Technology Officer, Peter Marx explained to Gizmodo, “We provided the locations of signalized intersections to Waze, as we would to any other traffic app, because we want to use every tool to relieve congestion and stress for those driving around the city.”

Now if you don’t happen to live in LA but know of a couple of intersections you’d like to start avoiding on your commute, you can report it in the Waze app. Just go to Report > Map Issue. This data is collected and hopefully will be addressed. And hey, maybe your city will be the next to receive this awesome new feature!

In the meantime, drive safely and keep thinking about alternate routes. Remember, no matter what GPS you use – Waze, Google Maps, Apple Maps, etc. – you can always disobey them and find your own way. Technology is not your master.

What do you think of the new “Difficult Intersections” feature in Waze? Let us know in the comments below or join the conversation on Twitter!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nick Gambino is a regular script writer and tech beat reporter for NewsWatch. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and daughter.

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