You MUST read the "[Guidelines] How to request and search for new features" before posting here.

If you think you've found a BUG, use the appropriate WME version release thread found in the Waze Map Editor forum (parent of this forum).
Sort by
Author
Post time
Subject
Display
All posts
1 day
2 weeks
1 month
3 months
6 months
1 year
Post Reply
Forum rules
You MUST read the "[Guidelines] How to request and search for new features" before posting here.

If you think you've found a BUG, use the appropriate "Official Feedback" thread found in the Waze Map Editor forum (parent of this forum).

Vehicle type: Emergency vehicle or Authorized vehicle

Post by qwaletee
Help speed emergency response! This feature can help save lives.

Can we add a vehicle type, to be used in turn restrictions and segment restrictions, of Emergency Vehicle? Or Authorized Vehicle? Or both?

It is common to find connectors or entire roads that should be routable for police, fire, ambulance, and the like, when they are responding to an emergency (or to set up a speed trap *roll eyes*). They are not permitted for other uses. Currently, there is some confusion over how to map them, if at all. Ideally, we could just have another restriction type for emergency vehicles, much like HOV-2 and HOV-3 restrictions.

Future app versions would support the feature, also similarly to HOV, where a vehicle or trip could have the vehicle type set to emergency vehicle and route over these segments.

Waze can then provide the benefits of its awesome routing power to help speed emergency response.

A related restriction is authorized vehicle. While this is more situational (a vehicle authorized for one place may not be authorized for another), it does parallel emergency vehicle segment restrictions, and would be up to the user to decide if it makes sense.
qwaletee
EmeritusChamps
EmeritusChamps
Posts: 2939
Has thanked: 188 times
Been thanked: 958 times

POSTER_ID:14073768

1

Send a message
US Champ / Country Manager | State Manager NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA, RI, VT, ME, NH | Northeast ARC | Mentor | Responding to Map Issues

Re: Vehicle type: Emergency vehicle or Authorized vehicle

Post by jondrush
Do NA emergency services actually use Waze? I thought they had proprietary systems.
jondrush
EmeritusChamps
EmeritusChamps
Posts: 2660
Has thanked: 73 times
Been thanked: 375 times
Send a message

Re: Vehicle type: Emergency vehicle or Authorized vehicle

Post by MGODLEW
jondrush wrote:Do NA emergency services actually use Waze? I thought they had proprietary systems.
They do not. I've been a Police Officer for the past 8 years and while I am all for helping emergency responders get their hands on as many tools as possible to potentially help them, Waze unfortunately would not be one of them. Allow me to explain: Where I work, our 911 center had a private company map every road in our county for our CAD (Computer-aided dispatch) System where they essentially guaranteed accuracy of their map, unfortunately Waze in a lot of areas is still rather inaccurate. I'd hate to see someone be routed to the wrong address when someones life is on the line. Additionally, most emergency responders know which roads get congested during what times.
MGODLEW
EmeritusChamps
EmeritusChamps
Posts: 2004
Has thanked: 422 times
Been thanked: 534 times
Send a message
I am best reached via Discord, give me an “@“

Re: Vehicle type: Emergency vehicle or Authorized vehicle

Post by moogonk
Waze's main strength is to detect congestion or other traffic delays and to route drivers around them.

Emergency vehicles are not impacted in the same way by congestion (by virtue of the lights and sirens). I don't know why emergency agencies would use Waze.
moogonk
Country Manager
Country Manager
Posts: 564
Has thanked: 196 times
Been thanked: 103 times
Send a message
Moogonk
Country Manager & Multi-State Manager--CT, ME, MA, RI, VT. Rank 5 Resident New Hampshire State Manager


Sometimes you avoid the jam, sometimes you are the jam, and sometimes it's faster to go through the jam. - AndyPoms

Re: Vehicle type: Emergency vehicle or Authorized vehicle

Post by moogonk
My local fire department / ambulance service uses off-the-shelf Garmins (mostly for the out-of-town runs).
moogonk
Country Manager
Country Manager
Posts: 564
Has thanked: 196 times
Been thanked: 103 times
Send a message
Moogonk
Country Manager & Multi-State Manager--CT, ME, MA, RI, VT. Rank 5 Resident New Hampshire State Manager


Sometimes you avoid the jam, sometimes you are the jam, and sometimes it's faster to go through the jam. - AndyPoms

Re: Vehicle type: Emergency vehicle or Authorized vehicle

Post by qwaletee
That's not really correct. I've driven ambulances. Emergency vehicles are still affected by the traffic around them. Also, drivers are not always familiar with the area they are in, and not all agencies/providers install driver-usable GPS units.

So, emergency vehicle drivers still can make use of some form of GPS to help them find a place if they don't know where it is or how to get there, and Waze in particular may be able to route them around bad traffic that, while it might move out of their way, is still far slower than clear roads or even roads with reasonable traffic.

(When you have a highway that is bumper to bumper, there's just not that much room for cars to try to get out of the way. In EVOC/CEVO, we learn to avoid driving on shoulders if we can. It isn't safe - or fast - because they are often not constructed/maintained like drivable roadways, and because it is common for drivers to unexpectedly pull out in front of you onto the shoulder.)
qwaletee
EmeritusChamps
EmeritusChamps
Posts: 2939
Has thanked: 188 times
Been thanked: 958 times
Send a message
US Champ / Country Manager | State Manager NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA, RI, VT, ME, NH | Northeast ARC | Mentor | Responding to Map Issues

Re: Vehicle type: Emergency vehicle or Authorized vehicle

Post by qwaletee
MOGODLEW, I understand your position, but I've been involved with vollies, and trust me, many of them have NOTHING. And if they ever get a Mutual Aid call, or have a new driver in a big, sparse area, well, I'm not going to say people have died waiting, but you can read your small town paper.

BTW, the PSAP typically has fantastic info, because they're usually consolidated across a wider area and/or run by a higher level of government. They get funded and get modern tech, including good CAD.

Its when they pass the call to the vollie operator that you sometimes get in trouble. The operators know this,and will often try to give enough info to make it easier to make the scene, giving address, cross streets, and sometimes even best major intersection to route through.

Then again, there are PSAPs that are still running on index cards.
qwaletee
EmeritusChamps
EmeritusChamps
Posts: 2939
Has thanked: 188 times
Been thanked: 958 times
Send a message
US Champ / Country Manager | State Manager NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA, RI, VT, ME, NH | Northeast ARC | Mentor | Responding to Map Issues
Post Reply