this post was submitted on 28 Jun 2023
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They're separate because Waze has a reputation of giving more "aggressive" routing, and has a social aspect to it. Stuff that really doesn't belong in Google Maps.
What's aggressive routing? Like more prone to induce road rage?
And through quiet neighborhood communities where people are out in the streets playing with the kids, walking the dog or getting a run in.
Someone in my neighborhood got hit while walking their dog by someone using Waze.
Be careful of confirmation bias and the availability heuristic. One irresponsible person does not define the masses.
Thanks! Yes, you are correct, confirmation bias and availability heuristic did cloud my thinking. That said, there is data showing that Waze has changed traffic patterns (and an attempt by urban and transportation planners to combat those changes) as a result of directing drivers outside the streets intended for heavy use.
I also found this interesting qualitative study done on 50 Waze users showing Waze users “demonstrate behaviors and patterns which resemble those of technological dependency.”
“The majority of non-users of WAZE were likely to adopt the application after exposure to its benefits. The interface is also similar to a gaming interface that heightens consumers’ engagement. At the same time, these features generate concerns that use of the application promotes maladaptive driving patterns and creates distractions for drivers. …
Participants in the current study were asked whether using the application diminishes their sense of orientation on the road during their normal everyday functioning and driving on the road. Half of interviewees (25) recounted that when they use the application, they do not notice the road; they feel as if they are driving “without seeing” and they shift the responsibility for driving from themselves to the application. As a result, the use of WAZE app impairs normal functioning of taking responsibility of the driving.”
No study is perfect and this one certainly has some issues, but it does point to concerning patterns that those of us who live in impacted neighborhoods have witnessed.
Like making you take an extra 10 turns, take a longer route, and drive on too-narrow roads, to potentially save only several minutes of being stopped in traffic.
Waze will route you off the highway onto side streets if it thinks it will save you 30 seconds, where Google Maps will keep you on the highway unless it's closed entirely. The Waze routing only works if you're the only one using Waze in the area too. If you're the thenth person Waze has sent down a tiny side street, you end up in your own mini Waze-induced traffic jam that eats up the entire time savings.
It's basically: "hey this route might be 1s faster, let's add these three turns to your route".
I actually hate it. That's one of the things I absolutely love about TomTom. From what I can tell, TomTom even prefers routing where you have right turns vs ones where you have to take left turns. And of course they prefer the slightly (!) "longer" route over one where you have to turn more and/or drive through narrow passages.
So in other words: Waze prefers the fastest route, ignoring other parameters that are relevant for driving.
Examples