This is a feature that many users have been asking for for years, to the point of becoming one of the main delays of Waze against its direct competitors, Google Maps and Apple Maps. The community application has finally started deploying the display of traffic lights on his cards. Spotted in testing phase from the end of 2025, this new feature will now reach a growing number of users, although the deployment will be very gradual.
How is this gradual deployment going?
As is often the case with new features from tech giants, it is on social networks, and more particularly on Reddit, that the first feedback has emerged. An American user shared a screenshot clearly showing the icon of a traffic light on his route.
The comments under this post confirm the gradual character of the launch: some claim to have benefited from the functionality for several weeks, while others are still waiting for its appearance. Waze has not communicated any specific timetable, which suggests a deployment in wavesenabled server-side and potentially per region. Updating your application is a first step, but does not guarantee immediate access.
What is the practical use of this functionality?
The addition of traffic lights is far from being a simple visual gimmick. For drivers, this indication allows them to better anticipate stopsespecially on long roads or in unfamiliar areas. Knowing that a fire is approaching helps you slow down gently, thus avoiding sudden braking and contributing to smoother and more economical driving.
Beyond security, this novelty could ultimately improve accuracy of instructions of navigation. The application could, for example, indicate to “turn right after the light”, making the more intuitive guidance. Although Waze has not yet integrated audible alerts for traffic lights, their simple visual presence on the map already constitutes a significant advantage.
How does Waze stack up against the competition?
By integrating traffic lights, Waze fills a gap significant gap compared to Google Maps and Apple Maps, which have offered this option for several years. This update is part of a broader strategy aimed at enriching the user experience without overload the interfacea criticism sometimes made of Google Maps.
Waze’s DNA remains its community aspectwith real-time reporting being its main strength. The recent addition of alerts for speed bump or speed limit changes, and soon the stop signsshows a desire to modernize its interface while maintaining its refined approach, centered on collaborative navigation.
