Waze gets a load of new features. But the main novelty is not yet heading to the Czech Republic

Google’s navigation has long focused mainly on car drivers. Now, for the first time, Waze offers a mode tailored for motorcyclists and also learns to be quiet so it doesn’t interrupt your music while driving. However, the Czech Republic will not see this main novelty yet.

Special Mode for Motorcyclists

The motorcycle mode is built on artificial intelligence that searches for a route considering how a two-wheeled vehicle moves – it accounts for shortcuts and restrictions that do not apply to cars. Waze according to Google can even send a motorcycle into narrower streets where regular car navigation wouldn’t dare, promising a more accurate estimated arrival time as a result.

In addition to the route itself, the mode also monitors hazards that don’t bother car drivers much, but can give motorcyclists quite a scare. The app warns about potholes, speed bumps, raised crosswalks, disappearing shoulders, and narrow bridges. A dedicated team of map editors for motorcycles ensures the timeliness of these warnings, adding them to the system in real-time.

The new mode is currently launching only in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, and the Philippines – unfortunately, motorcycle navigation is not currently heading to Europe, and therefore not to the Czech Republic either. Waze did not specify when it will arrive here.

Less Chatty Waze

The second new feature will please anyone who enjoys listening to music or podcasts behind the wheel (or handlebars). The less chatty mode cuts down the number of announcements to a minimum and lets you listen in peace. For important things – an upcoming turn, a lane change, or a danger warning – the navigation will still alert you, but it will pause the extra chatter. Unlike the motorcycle mode, Waze is releasing this feature globally on both Android and iOS.

Furthermore, the navigation learns from your previous journeys. If you prefer highways over country roads (or vice versa), it will start offering such routes first. You can turn off personalization in the settings at any time if you don’t want it to learn.

Thanks to Gemini, Waze Understands Spoken Word

The latest set of new features relies on Gemini artificial intelligence. Voice reporting of traffic situations, which we wrote about earlier, can now handle more than just accidents and traffic jams – you can now also report a road closure or a map error with a simple phrase like “the road is closed here.” However, it currently only works in English; Czech will apparently have to wait.

Waze gets a load of new features. But the main novelty is not yet heading to the Czech Republic Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

Gemini also gets destination search. Instead of tapping on the map, you can simply ask in natural language – for example, “find me a coffee shop that’s open now” or “where can I park closest.” This feature is currently only available to a closed group of testers.

Do you miss a motorcycle mode in Waze, or does the current navigation suit you?

Sources: Google, 9to5Google