ST. LOUIS — Do you use the Waze navigation app? It’s a very effective, MoDOT-recommended resource to help you get around on the roads because it utilizes other drivers' reporting. But when should you do that “reporting,” and can it be dangerous?
Many times, that question pops up just before you are hitting a pothole or seeing a police officer. If you answer the “Still There?” query, you earn points and a big smiley face. It feels good to know you’ve helped other drivers and Waze get an accurate view of the current roads, but sometimes the scramble to hit that report can be a dangerous distraction, and it's illegal with the new hands-free law in Missouri.
So, what is the official advice of the Missouri Department of Transportation on this part of the Waze app?
We talked to Tom Blair from MoDOT. He said while Waze is a partner of the department, they don’t advise using the reporting feature if you are driving alone. If you have a passenger, “they should report it for you,” Blair said.
How realistic is this? Share your opinion with Traffic Anchor Paul Cook at pcook@ksdk.com.
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