Hi everyone!
We are pleased to share that we are launching a new set of Permanent Hazards in WME Production for the LatAm, Brazil, and APAC communities. While this initial release is intended for specific countries, the next phase will expand to the rest of the world based on continuous feedback from the communities and data collected and analyzed from the future release of these features in the app.
Why new Permanent Hazards?
We are improving the Waze map to offer drivers an even more local and contextualized experience, focusing on specific road infrastructure risks that impact traffic safety.
These new alerts are designed to increase drivers’ situational awareness, helping them identify changes in the road with more lead time and confidence, contributing to even safer navigation.
What is included in this WME release?
It is now possible to map five new types of Permanent Hazards. They are added as point-based hazards directly onto a segment. We have prepared a detailed guide to help you get started.
Check out the editing rules HERE
The 5 new types of Permanent Hazards
- Raised crosswalk: Raised crosswalks in platform format.
- High speed crossing: “Zebra” style crosswalks located on high-speed roads, with a higher risk for users.
- Narrow bridge: Single-lane bridges on two-way roads, where vehicles need to slow down or yield.
- Lane end - abrupt: Early warning for lanes that end abruptly, requiring merging into traffic. This alert is visible only for the motorcycle vehicle type in the app.
- Shoulder end - abrupt: Early warning for locations where the shoulder ends abruptly. This alert is visible only for the motorcycle vehicle type in the app. (Currently disabled for Brazil.)
Safety for motorcyclists and expansion to other vehicles 
For the first time, we are introducing Permanent Hazards with a special focus on protecting the motorcyclist community. Two-wheeled riders face specific risk situations, where a few seconds of warning can make all the difference.
The Shoulder end - abrupt and Lane end - abrupt alerts were created specifically to help reduce these risks, allowing motorcyclists to avoid situations where they might run out of space due to surrounding traffic or be surprised by the sudden end of a lane.
We also want to acknowledge the feedback received during the Beta phase, where many community members highlighted that these alerts are also extremely relevant for drivers of other vehicle types. The team is already working on this and expects to make these alerts available to all drivers in the near future.
Editing Guide and regional adaptations
Although we have prepared a comprehensive global editing guide, we rely on local communities to adapt it and create versions that best reflect the characteristics, needs, and particularities of each region’s infrastructure. Remember to continue following global recommendations on which situations should or should not be mapped.
Next steps
On July 1st, the gradual rollout of these features will begin in the production app for users in APAC, Brazil, and LatAm. Before this date, the alerts will NOT be visible, so please be careful not to disrupt the user experience. This will allow us to analyze the entire feature cycle, from mapping to the actual driving experience.
UNTIL THE RAISED CROSSWALK ALERT IS LAUNCHED IN PRODUCTION IN THE APP, WE RECOMMEND NOT REPLACING EXISTING SPEED BUMP ALERTS IN THESE LOCATIONS. SPEED BUMP RULES ARE BEING REVISED AND WE SHOULD PUBLISH A NEW UPDATE SOON!
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For those editing in APAC, Brazil, or LatAm: We need your help! To ensure a successful app launch on July 1st, we need to build a solid data foundation. This means these hazards need to be mapped before they start being made available to users. Please coordinate with your local community leadership to begin mapping these hazards in WME.
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How this impacts the global release: The data obtained during this initial phase will directly influence the global expansion schedule for the feature. The team will closely monitor driver interaction metrics to evaluate the utility and effectiveness of these alerts.
If you want to see these alerts working in the app before July 1st, we recommend joining the Beta App community, where you will be able to see your mapped hazards in action.
Future phases: Segment-based Permanent Hazards and Weather Conditions
We are exploring new types of hyperlocal Permanent Hazards for future implementations. The next steps include:
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Segment-based alerts: Expanding the current concept of isolated points to allow mapping of risk areas along a stretch of road (such as roads with steep inclines and declines or streets without public lighting).
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Weather-based alerts: Integration with meteorological data to display alerts only when certain conditions are present (such as roads prone to flooding, potholes that accumulate water, or stretches that become excessively slippery when wet).
We are excited to make these new alerts available to the community and look forward to seeing them enriching the map soon.
Sincerely,
By: Danit
