No need for standalone GPSs or expensive GPS software on your cell. Your smartphone can be your all-in-one, super-duper navigation system.
A great GPS
Waze is a free GPS navigation program. It has all the features one could want in a standard GPS program:
- Not only can you input addresses in English and Hebrew, but you can also search for the closest gas station, bank, pharmacy, and more with just a few clicks.
- It gives turn-by-turn directions in English, Hebrew, and other languages.
- It works anywhere in Israel and throughout the world.
But, if you mostly travel the same routes everyday, you might be asking yourself, “Why do I need GPS?” The answer is that you could be saving yourself possibly hours of sitting in traffic jams every month.
An amazing, social tool
Even on my regular commute, I would say that Waze saves me about an hour or two every month. How does Waze do it? It is a community-driven system. As Waze users experience traffic, the central system is updated, and all relevant users are updated. Traffic jam reported? You might be rerouted. Accident ahead? If no alternative routes are shorter, at least you’ll have a better idea of when you are due to arrive as your estimated time of arrival is updated. Bonus social features include reporting of speed traps.
Will you miss every traffic jam? No, especially when no Wazers were ahead of you reporting it. But, I miss a lot more than I used to before I started using it, and I take some comfort in knowing that I’m helping my fellow commuters behind me.
Downloading Waze
Waze is available for free in the Play Store for Android and in iTunes iPhone.
Happy driving!
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