14 proposals for improving Waze maps. Part.3
Proposal 9: Courier mode
This mode has just one option. The driver arrives at the loading depot and loads packages onto the van. The order of the packages doesn't matter. They open the app and click the Courier mode option; a window appears where they speak to the phone with their voice, and the phone writes down the text, filling in the address where the shipment is to be delivered. Then they click the save button and add another shipment, and so on until they have entered all shipments. Finally, after entering all shipments, they click the done button or "create route". The navigation analyses and arranges the points on the route, ordering them from the closest point to the loading depot to the farthest. There could also be another option: arranging the route from the farthest point to the closest to the loading depot. There could also be another possibility: after entering the clients, the driver manually moves the points in the navigation, creating the route order themselves. After entering, the navigation creates the route, and the driver doesn't have to worry about anything except delivering the packages to the destination. It would be good if for each client you could manually enter a short note in a text field, e.g., intercom code 545, or the client's second phone number because the first isn't always available. Whenever they drive to the same client, they will always be able to recall what they noted.
In this way, the courier has a great help in delivering shipments from point to point. In practice, it often looks like this: a driver from another city delivers packages around another city or rural area that they don't know. Such an option would make their work much easier. Sometimes a driver leaves a company and gets hired by a competing company. A replacement who comes in for the courier could receive a file with the saved client database for their area. If such an option existed in your navigation, courier guys could often exchange client databases, making their work easier. Sometimes such a client database would be useful in a new courier company. Not only couriers could use such an option, but also delivery drivers.
Proposal 10: Railway crossings
When a driver approaches a railway crossing, the navigation would say: "Railway crossing in 200 metres", and at that moment an image with a railway crossing icon would appear for 5 seconds, then disappear. The Waze navigation app has this option, and it's the only one among other navigation apps that has it, but as I said, it's very poorly updated, and forum posts about updating new points are from 2023. That speaks for itself. You have railway tracks drawn on your map, but constantly looking at the map distracts attention from the road, so it's better to hear a voice announcement and see a pop-up image.
Proposal 11: Built-up area
On the road, when the navigation detects a built-up area, it would inform with the message: "Built-up area, reduce speed." And after passing through: "End of built-up area."
Proposal 12: Weather along the route
You are planning a long trip. When you leave home, the weather is sunny, but 50 km further along your route, the weather has changed and it's raining. The navigation would inform you of the weather change with a voice message or a small cloud-with-raindrops icon on your route. The navigation would draw weather information from, for example, OpenWeatherMap, AccuWeather, Weatherbit, Visual Crossing.
Suggested messages:
"In about 50 kilometres, rain is expected."
"In 50 kilometres, the temperature will drop below zero, possible snow and black ice."
"In 80 kilometres, dense fog is forecast; visibility may drop below 100 metres."
Proposal 13: Driver fatigue
If the algorithm detects that the driver has been driving non-stop for 2 hours or 4 hours, the navigation says firmly: "You are tired, take a rest." Or a shorter message: "Time for a break and coffee."
Rationale: For ordinary (non-professional) drivers, the safe limit is 150–200 km non-stop (approx. 1.5–2 hours at typical highway speeds of 100 km/h). For professional drivers, the non-stop limit is 4 hours – after 4 hours, a rest period is required.
After 1 hour: first signs of fatigue (reduced attention, blinking, neck pain).
After 2 hours: mandatory 10-15 minute break to stretch, drink coffee, use the toilet – best every 100–150 km.
Longer than 2 hours: risk of microsleep, reaction time reduced by 50%, comparable to a blood alcohol level of 0.5‰.
Such an option would be enabled in the navigation before setting off on a journey. Of course, such an option would not be useful for truck drivers – they have their own rules – but for bus drivers with a category "B" licence who deliver goods abroad, or for ordinary people.
Proposal 15: (Note: Proposal 14 is missing in original, but numbering preserved)
The navigation has an extensive fuel station (CPN) option. After clicking on the fuel station icon, the icon expands, and within it you can add an option for fuel prices: 95, 98, Adblue, Diesel, gas. To keep prices up to date, I see two solutions:
Option one: users themselves update fuel prices. The reward for their effort could be a free navigation subscription for a whole year.
Option two: integrate the navigation with a professional, commercial fuel data API (e.g., OPISNAVX or TomTom). This provides a ready-made, reliable, and up-to-date database that works "out of the box", saving the costs and problems associated with collecting data yourself. For the navigation to display such prices, you need an API key and documentation from the chosen provider. I recommend starting by checking the offerings of OPISNAVX or TomTom, as these are proven solutions in the industry.
That's all from me in terms of proposals for a good navigation app. From my side, I will say that you really are at a high level and have a chance to break ahead of other navigation apps. I am testing your navigation and I am very satisfied with it.