Waze has long been considered the gold standard of navigation apps. Thanks to its user-friendly interface and its practical features, such as the detection of control zones and speed cameras, the app is popular with motorists. But the situation is changing and another application threatens Waze’s hegemony.
Waze’s reign over? Google Maps is the new champion
A MarketWatch study conducted in the United States in 2024 reveals that Google Maps is now the GPS application most used by motorists (70%) to avoid speed cameras. Its intuitive interface, its integration with other Google services and its advanced features explain this success. Users also appreciate the real-time traffic prediction or alternative route suggestions. The famous application is well ahead of Waze (also owned by Google, 27%) and Apple Maps (25%). Even iPhone users in the United States are abandoning the Apple brand’s native solution to use Maps.
The popularity of Maps can also be explained by the difficulties that Waze has been going through for many months. The GPS application which has millions of users around the world is regularly accused of being less effective. At the end of 2023, we were already talking about connection problems or less relevant journeys from Waze. From our point of view, the situation has not really improved as Google continues to merge its two GPS applications. After the teams came together, we could see Maps inheriting some of Waze’s best features.
The advantages of Google Maps are not (yet) all visible in France
This development is part of Google’s strategy to bring its two navigation applications closer together, but Maps suffers from the absence of certain functions to be adopted by French motorists. In France, speed camera warnings are prohibited by article R. 413-15 of the Highway Code and Maps does not include this option. Conversely, Waze and other apps play with this measure by offering “control zones” or “vigilance zones”. Different vocabulary to allow users to take advantage of a speed camera warning function.
Google Maps has not taken this step and you have to use third-party tools like TomTom Amigo to benefit from the detection of control zones. The Mountain View firm’s choice not to offer the option natively can be explained by the desire to make Maps a navigation and exploration solution. Unlike Waze which targets automobiles with a very active community, Maps is also popular with pedestrians to find their way and get around.
However, the line is narrowing between the two solutions, as evidenced by the integration of community alerts from Waze – including police checks – into Google Maps. Maps users can even confirm or deny these alerts on screen and Google plans to add many types of incidents (accidents, road hazards or construction). When this feature is massively deployed, Waze also risks losing influence in France.
How to activate “vigilance zones” on Google Maps?
Even if Google Maps can’t really indicate speed cameras in France, the app can save you from a fine by alerting you to speed limits. For that :
- Go to Google Maps Settings (tap your profile picture or initial in the top right)
- Open the “Navigation” tab
- Activate the “speed limits” and “speedometer” options
The application will then display the maximum authorized speed and your actual speed. You can even activate an audible alert if the speed is exceeded.
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