Georgia DOT partners with popular driver info app, Waze

Real-time roadway information sharing from drivers                                      

ATLANTA—Georgia Department of Transportation today announced a data-sharing partnership with Waze, the free, real-time crowdsourced navigation app powered by the world’s largest community of drivers. Designed as a free, two-way data share of publicly available traffic information, the Connected Citizens Program will promote greater efficiency, deeper insights and safer roads for citizens of Georgia, as it does for nearly 80 partners around the world.

The partnership provides real-time, anonymous, Waze-generated incident and slow-down information to Georgia DOT directly from the source: drivers themselves. In exchange, Georgia DOT provides real-time construction, crash and road closure data to Waze. This will result in a succinct, thorough overview of current road conditions. The data sharing partnership is seen as significant for both the NaviGAtor and Waze platforms.

“We are excited about this great data-sharing partnership with Waze that will provide a valuable supplement to the NaviGAtor 511 system,” said Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry. “Georgia motorists will now have real-time traffic information not only on our interstates and state routes, but also on arterial routes – information that is coming directly from the traveling public.”

NaviGAtor 511, Georgia’s traveler information system, is a State Farm sponsored free public service of the Georgia Department of Transportation. It can be accessed at www.511ga.org or by calling 511 anywhere in Georgia. NaviGAtor 511 enhances mobility, safety and efficiency by providing travelers with real-time, route-specific travel information and 24/7 access to live operators.

Paige Fitzgerald is the Waze Connected Citizens Program manager. “Waze welcomes Georgia DOT, our fourth Georgia partner, to the Waze Connected Citizens Program. No one knows more about what is happening on the roads than Wazers,” she said. “Georgia DOT can use these anonymous insights to further promote safer roads. More than that, Georgia DOT is providing critical construction and road closure data to Waze, helping Wazers better circumvent major traffic events and real-time traffic blocks statewide. This exchange empowers our users, Georgia DOT and the broader community to work together to improve urban mobility within the state.”

Georgia DOT urges motorists to DriveAlert ArriveAlive. Always buckle up, stay off the phone and no texting while driving.

Download The free Waze app through App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore; the Google: Play Market; or by visiting http://m.waze.com. To learn more about Waze, watch Waze Connected Citizen Program.

Motorists can access real-time, statewide, route-specific information on crashes, road work, traffic and weather through Georgia NaviGAtor 511 online or by phone. Callers can transfer to operators to report incidents or request assistance. The system can be also be used to access transit providers, major airports, rideshare organizations, tourism information and 511 systems in surrounding states. Call 511 or visit 511ga.org.  For information on Georgia DOT, visit www.dot.ga.gov. You also may follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/GeorgiaDOT) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/gadeptoftrans).