This page is part of the new WME editor that supports scheduled restrictions
Scheduled restrictions (or time-based restrictions) enables Waze to control the routing of vehicles through roads or turns, and those can be further restricted based on time, day, or vehicle type. The classic use cases are for public transit lanes, turn restrictions during rush or commute hours, directionality changes, seasonal road closures, gates, moveable bridges and ferry lanes.
Overview
There are four methods to control traffic flow:
- Events
- Temp Road Closures
- Scheduled Restrictions
- Disconnect road segments
((Create article on why to use each one and point to that article. If small enough make a template and insert here. use info from Scheduled Restrictions.))
This article covers how to create scheduled restrictions. Scheduled restrictions can be based on:
- An entire segment controlling traffic flow for one or both directions
- Specific turns from one segment to another
Each of these restrictions can be further restricted based on combinations of:
- Vehicle type
- Time of day, day of week, date range, etc.
Examples:
- Interstate truck-only ramp
- No trucks allowed between 9a-3p weekends
- No left turn 7a-9a and 4p-6p weekdays
- HOV lanes
- Freeway express lanes which are a single roadway, but run a different direction for morning and evening commutes
- Vehicle towing a trailer
While this is a very flexible system, it requires what might initially look like a very complex interface to manage the many combinations possible. It is certainly very important that any changes made to any current scheduled restrictions on the map be done with extreme caution so as not to destroy hours of work by prior map editors. Therefore be sure to only make changes to scheduled restrictions with careful consideration, care and patience.
Segments
Insert image of edit page showing Add restriction button When no traffic or certain vehicles are not permitted on a segment (or road), you can set restrictions on the segment directly preventing any traffic flow across the segment. This is easier that trying to restrict all the turns that come from other segments to this one segment. Some restrictions may only affect a certain direction, or sometimes a road allows traffic flow one way and then later in the day it switched to the opposite direction.
Segment restrictions are added or edited through the ‘Add/Edit restrictions’ button in the left pane (or the ‘T’ keyboard shortcut).
((Insert image of Segment Time based restrictions window))
That brings up the "Time based restrictions" window. Segments supporting two-way traffic will display two tabs: "A to B" and "B to A" referring to the letters A and B on either end of the selected segment indicating the direction of orientation related to the direction of traffic flow.
The text below the tab will describe which direction of travel is associated with that tab to help determine which traffic direction is represented by each tab.
((Insert Create a new restriction window)) Press the "+ Add restriction" button to create a new restriction.
See the section XXXXX for information on how to set the restriction. Segment and turn restrictions are set using the same instructions covered below. You can create multiple restrictions for the segment to allow for restrictions that might only occur at different times of the day, or maybe the restriction is at different times on the weekdays than on the weekends.
Once you create the restrictions for one direction you can simply copy all the restrictions to the other direction with the link labeled "Copy all to the other side." Otherwise only one direction of travel will be restricted and the other direction will be fully open.
Once a restriction is created you can edit Pencil icon or remove X icon a restriction with the appropriate action buttons.
Turns
When only certain turns are restricted from one segment to another, this method of restriction should be selected and not the whole segment.
All turning traffic restricted at all times
Turns that are restricted to all traffic (all vehicle types) are set with turn arrows—the arrows that appear at the end of a selected segment. A restricted turn is indicated by a red arrow with a do not sign next to it. A turn that is open (not restricted) to all traffic is indicated by a green arrow.
image of arrows
To change from a green arrow (open) to a red arrow (fully restricted) simply click on the arrow and it will toggle between the options.
Link to articles on the various turn arrow tips and tricks
probably include something on U turns too
Scheduled turn restrictions
When not all times, days, dates, or vehicles are restricted from turning, you can set a scheduled turn restriction from one segment to another. Turns that are restricted to all traffic during certain times of the day are "time based turn restrictions".
((Insert photo of "no left turn 7a-9a 4p-6p" sign or similar))
Accessing the editing window is also accessed through the turn arrows. Select the desired turn arrow and click it until it becomes green. With the mouse hovering over the green arrow you will see a clock icon next to the arrow. Click on the clock to bring up the Time based restriction window for that turn.
((Insert image of green arrow with clock highlighted))
You should then see the Time based restrictions panel.
((Insert Create a new restriction window))
Press the "+ Add restriction" button to create a new restriction.
See the section XXXXX for information on how to set the restriction. Segment and turn restrictions are set using the same instructions covered below. You can create multiple restrictions for the segment to allow for restrictions that might only occur at different times of the day, or maybe the restriction is at different times on the weekdays than on the weekends.
Once you enter the restriction(s) and press the Apply button, you will see a Yellow arrow instead of the green arrow indicating that turn has time based restrictions enabled.
((Insert yellow arrow image with white clock shown))
To access the edit window for that turn, simply click the white clock that appears next to the yellow arrow. If you only click on the yellow arrow, you will turn it red indicating all times, days, and vehicles are restricted. Note that your prior settings are saved and if you click the red arrow again it will return to yellow with the last saved settings.
Setting restrictions
Both segment and turn restrictions are created and edited using the same user interface, but each one is accessed through a different method discussed above. Some of the examples below will be turn based restrictions, but the method is the same for the segment restrictions.
((Insert image of default Time based restrictions panel))
Days of week
Select the days of the week that the restriction will be active. Use the Select all or Select none link to to more quickly change all the check boxes. The default is all days of the week. Your display order for the days will depend upon your country settings in your browser and may not exactly match the image above.
Time of day
For restrictions that apply all day long, use the default setting of All day. If the restriction is for only certain periods of time during the day, then select the From radio button to allow the time to be changed.
The time is entered in [24-hour format] meaning there is no AM or PM entered. Instead AM times are entered directly and PM times are entered by adding 12 to the hour. For example a schedule of 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM would instead be entered as 10:00 to 15:00. The minutes are not any different between the systems.
The time that should be entered is the local time of the road as would be displayed on the local signs. The Waze server already knows the local time zones and will schedule the restriction correctly.
Daylight savings time is automatically accounted for as long as the Waze client app is properly set to the correct local time.
Crossing midnight
If a restriction occurs only during night time hours and opens in the morning e.g., restricted between 10 PM and 5 AM, then enter the From time as 22:00 and the To time as 05:00. You will notice an information box that says the restriction will end of the following day. If this restriction is only on a certain day of the week, e.g., Saturday night and Sunday night, then select the day of the week for Sat and Sun matching the start of the restriction. There is no need to include Monday because it will be automatically covered. Including the Monday check box would then add a third day starting at 10 PM Monday.
DATA TO BE SORTED
The following examples cover specific situations to provide more guidance
Simple time based turn restrictions
For a turn that is restricted (not allowed) between 10 am and 2 pm daily, click the radio button next to "From", then enter "10:00" and "14:00" as the start and end times of the restriction. (Time based turn restrictions are input in 24-hour time [include a link to the wikipedia article on 24 hour time].) You may enter the times manually or by using the input panels accessed by the clock buttons next to the input fields. [image of panel with 10:00 and 14:00 entered]
Click "Add" to add the restriction. You will be returned to the Time based restrictions panel. The panel should now reflect the added restrictions. [image of panel with restriction added]
For a turn that is restricted between 7 and 9 am, and again between 4 and 6 pm, add the restrictions one-by-one as instructed above. When added, the panel should look like this. [image of panel with 7-9 and 16-18 restrictions added - n peters to bienville example]
Overnight time based turn restrictions
Time-of-day restriction periods may not cross midnight. For a turn that is restricted between 8 pm and 6 am, enter one restriction from 20:00 to 23:59 and a second from 0:00 to 6:00. [image of panel with 20-23:59 and 0-6 restrictions added - bourbon street example]
Date-based turn restrictions
Restrictions may also only be in place on certain days of the week. For a turn that is restricted "weekends", check only the boxes for "Sat" and "Sun". [image of input panel with M-F unchecked]
Time-and-date-based turn restrictions
For a turn that is restricted "2 pm to 4 pm, weekdays", when adding the restriction, uncheck the boxes next to "Sat" and "Sun", and enter "14:00" and "16:00" in the time boxes. [image of input panel with M-F checked and 14-16 entered]
Time-of-year and holiday turn restrictions
Also, some restrictions may only be in place during certain times of year. [explanation of that control with images and all]
This tool may even be used to restrict traffic on some moving holidays. For instance, for a turn that is not allowed on Labor Day (US: the first Monday in September), check only the box next to "Mon" and enter "01/09/2013" (September 1st; dates are in DD/MM/YYYY format) and "07/09/20xx". Clever, right? [image of input panel with all that stuff entered]
Time based road restrictions
Roads may also be restricted at certain times of day, on certain days, or at certain times of day on certain days. These restrictions, called Time-based road restrictions are added using the same panel as time-based turn restrictions, but accessed by a different control.
To access the Time based restrictions panel for a road segment, first select the segment, then click the "Add restrictions" button in the sidebar. [screenshot]
Simple time based road restrictions
Overnight time based road restrictions
Date based road restrictions
Time-and-date based road restrictions
[examples: royal st, pharr st]
Time-of-year and holiday road restrictions
Reversible road
[explain that a reversible road is set as two-way on the main map and then restricted in the panel. this merits its own section imo as it is a somewhat complex topic]
Vehicle type restrictions
All-day-every-day vehicle type restrictions
Some turns may only be taken, and some roads traveled, only by certain vehicles. Examples of this include HOV lanes, bus stops, and truck-only exit ramps. [some photos of real-world signs]
Also, some turns may be taken by all traffic except certain vehicles. Examples of this include no truck zones. [some more photos]
To set vehicle type restrictions, click "(Edit)" next to "Restriction for all vehicle types" on the Time based restrictions panel. (this is misleading, huh) This will extend the panel to show boxes for various vehicle types. [image of extended panel]
Note: A checked box means that the type of vehicle is restricted (disallowed) from making the selected turn or driving on the selected road. For a turn where only trucks are restricted from turning (not allowed to turn), uncheck every box except "trucks" in the panel extension.
Certain vehicles allowed
[include examples: hov lane, bus stop, truck ramp]
Certain vehicles excluded
[include examples: no truck zone, no bus, etc]
Scheduled vehicle type restrictions
Vehicle type restrictions may be combined with time-based restrictions, as well. For a turn that is not allowed from 7-9am except for buses, enter 7:00 and 9:00, then extend the panel and uncheck "buses". [image of that]
Reversible roads with vehicle type restrictions
Some reversible roads may also be restricted to certain vehicle types. A common example of this is the reversible HOV lane.
[explain that too]
Date logic
- The schedules are designed for recurring events. The restrictions will happen on each day of the week within the date range, in the hours defined in the hour range.
- The times being used are at the local location of the restriction. Meaning, if i’m Italy editing the map in New York, the restrictions are in EST and not offset to my local Italian time.
- The date and time ranges are inclusive - meaning that a restriction from July 3rd to July 5th will include the entire day of July 5th.
If the end time is earlier than the start time, the restriction will wrap around to the next day.
Some examples:
| Days of the week | Time Range | Date Range | Restriction Result |
| Sunday | All day | 12.1.2014 - 12.31.2014 | Every Sunday on December 2014, from 00:00 until 23:59:59. |
| Monday - Friday | 09:00-11:00 | Every Week | Every weekday from 9am to 11am. |
| Thursday | 23:00-03:00 | Every Week | Every Thursday from 23:00 until every Friday at 03:00 |
| All | All day | 7.3.2015 - 7.15.2015 | From July 3rd 2015 at 00:00 until July 15th at 23:59:59 |
Multiple segment selection
Multiple segments can be selected at once for batch editing of restrictions. Selecting multiple segments is done by clicking the segments while holding the Ctrl button (or Cmd on Mac computers).
A few things to note when editing multiple segments: Note the directionality of the segments - two neighbouring segments can be with different a->b directionality. In one of them the a->b direction can be eastbound and in the other it can be westbound at the same time. When multiple segments are selected with different restrictions set on them, they will appear in a different section of the dialog under the title: 'These restrictions only apply to some of the segments selected:' Click the ‘Apply to all’ link to the right of the restriction line to propagate the restriction to all the selected segments.
Vehicle Types
By default, a restriction is applicable to all vehicles. You can change this by expanding the vehicles list using the ‘edit’ link.
The expanded vehicle type list shows some common vehicle types. The checked types are the one that will not be routed through the segment / turn at the specified times.
Currently, all Waze mobile clients are considered to be private vehicles. The other vehicle types are available for future forward compatibility.