Apple is bringing new crowdsourced information to the Maps app with iOS 14.5, offering a Waze-like experience that will allow drivers to report accidents, hazards and speed checks to other road users.
As explained by TechCrunch, the update, which Apple says will be available in spring, will allow drivers to report incidents by using Siri on their iPhone or through Apple’s CarPlay, as well as by manually contributing via the Maps app by swiping up from the bottom of the screen to show an “Incidents” page.
Reported incidents such as hazards, speed checks and accidents will show on the map itself, allowing drivers to get advanced warning and potentially choose an alternative route if necessary.
To use the new features, drivers will be able to report road issues and incidents by using Siri on their iPhone or through Apple’s CarPlay. For example, during navigation, they’ll be able to tell Siri things like “there’s a crash up head,” “there’s something on the road,” or “there’s a speed trap here.” They’ll also be able to correct stale accident or hazard alert information by saying things like “the hazard is gone” or the “incident is no longer here.”
Waze, a subsidiary of Google, launched over 15 years ago. The platform has grown massively in popularity since then, offering alerts about traffic, police, hazards and more on your drive. The app re-routes drivers based on crowdsourced information about delays, with features such as gas bill splitting for group car journey, the ability to create a Friends lists to see the location of your contacts, and more.
Image: MacRumors/MozMan68
