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Waze: How to Enable Reporting of Speed Cameras and Control Zones

Waze is a real-time GPS navigation app that provides road information. It allows users to be informed about slowdowns, construction, accidents, and even speed cameras. However, to take full advantage of these features, it’s crucial to know how to enable the reporting of speed cameras and control zones. In this article, we explain how.

Understanding How Waze Works

Waze is a collaborative app that allows users to share real-time traffic conditions. It indicates control zones, allowing drivers to adjust their speed according to the current limits and avoid fines due to excessive speed. However, in compliance with the new legislation, exact positions of fixed speed cameras aren’t signaled by default on Waze. Only “danger” zones are indicated.

As for mobile speed cameras, their position reporting may be temporarily banned by authorities during an operation for a kidnapping or terrorist attack. Therefore it’s important to understand that the Waze app does not replace compliance with traffic rules but serves as a driving aid.

How to Enable Speed Camera Reporting on Waze

To display speed cameras on your Waze app, follow these steps:

  • Go to My Waze
  • Click on settings (gear symbol)
  • Select Alerts and Reporting
  • Click on Reports
  • Activate all the reports you want to receive by clicking each one and moving the slider if necessary.

By following these steps, you can make speed cameras appear on your Waze app.

How To Be Notified of Speed Cameras

To be warned about the presence of speed cameras in an area, you need to enable visual and sound alerts. Visual alerts will be activated if you have made the danger zones appear. For the sound, click on the speaker symbol that appears at the bottom right of the home screen, then press Alerts only or Sound enabled, depending on your preference.

It’s important to note that these alerts are not intended to encourage risky driving but rather to help drivers adhere to speed limits and be more aware of potential dangers on the road.

The Symbols on Waze

On Waze, you can see different symbols indicating a speed camera, construction zone, traffic jam, or police presence. You can also discover icons showing the mood of other app users or even “wazers”, these little characters that provide detailed information about traffic conditions.

Therefore it’s essential to understand the meaning of these symbols for effective use of the Waze app and full benefit from its features.

The Best Apps for Speed Cameras

Besides Waze, several other apps are favored by drivers for speed camera reporting. Among them are Coyote (paid, about 13 euros per month) and CamSam which has a free GPS guiding version and another paid version at 5 euros offering additional functions.

These apps can be a great aid for drivers, but it’s important to remember that adhering to speed limits and traffic rules remains the best way to avoid accidents and fines.