Can apps like Waze steer you clear of disaster? Maybe not

Press/Media: Expert comment

Description

Navigation apps like Waze are trying to help motorists avoid hurricane flooding. But can people really rely on their smartphones to steer themselves out of a disaster zone?

Period17 Sept 2018

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • Title Can apps like Waze steer you clear of disaster? Maybe not
    Degree of recognitionInternational
    Media name/outletAssociated Press (AP)
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    Date17/09/18
    DescriptionNavigation apps like Waze are trying to help motorists avoid hurricane flooding. But can people really rely on their smartphones to steer themselves out of a disaster zone?

    Amid heavy rain from Florence, some smartphone or in-car map directions in recent days have sent people in North Carolina onto flooded roads and others closed to traffic.

    Google-owned Waze said Monday it’s worked with local governments and its own community of volunteer map editors to mark closures of more than 1,300 roads in North Carolina and hundreds more in South Carolina and Virginia.

    But the North Carolina Department of Transportation warned in a tweet on Sunday night that Waze and other travel apps are unable to keep up with Florence-caused road closings.
    Producer/AuthorMatt O'Brien
    URLhttps://apnews.com/general-news-weather-6c49645d9b854e11833ee1a5cb57d8e2
    PersonsSam Hind
View all 1
View less

Keywords

  • navigation apps
  • Waze
  • natural disasters
  • flooding
  • algorithms