On various occasions, we editors come across large construction zones that are difficult for us to manage. Either they are very long, as on motorways, and in some cases extend over 10 km or more. Or they affect larger areas where, for example, residential quarters are being developed or streets within towns are being rebuilt.

In both cases, we editors are frequently faced with a large number of user requests. Entrances and exits – or roads in general – are reported as closed today, then as open again in two weeks’ time, whilst another road is reported as closed in the meantime. Or reports are submitted regarding new, modified or lifted speed limits that are difficult to verify.

My suggestion is to introduce a construction zone in Waze that can be defined in terms of both location and duration. My proposal is modelled on the possibilities offered by the newly introduced school zones. For roadworks, an editor could define a geographically limited zone, for example along a motorway construction site or around another area where extensive and long-term roadworks are taking place. This could be subject to a time restriction, as announced, for example, by the road authorities.

Users entering or approaching this area would receive a one-off audible warning stating ‘major roadworks ahead’, accompanied by the message ‘Caution! Please observe the altered traffic diversions and speed limits!’, provided they are travelling through this zone with active routing. A suitable visual display would accompany the message. The warning messages could be standardised and, if necessary, manually adapted to the situation by the editor. Users are informed at an early stage of any changes in the situation at major construction sites and no longer need to submit individual reports on this.

Only experienced editors (L4+) and status statemanagers or higher should be permitted to set these roadworks zones, in order to ensure reliable operation.