Waze supports numerous types of cameras and can provide client alerts when approaching a validated camera installation.
Know your Cameras
Also known as "What is NOT a Red Light Camera".
Before adding any cameras to the Waze map, you must be sure you are accurately reporting a camera installation. Many devices may have similar appearances but very different functions.
The following devices all serve different purposes but may all be installed at the same intersection.
Signal Preemption Systems
Traffic signal preemption is a type of system that allows the normal operation of traffic lights to be preempted, often to assist emergency vehicles. A very common system in the United States is the Opticom™ system by Global Traffic Technologies (GTT).
These devices have a few things in common:
- They are small and compact
- They are mounted facing the traffic they are monitoring
- They are typically mounted on the structures supporting the traffic signals
Traffic Cameras
Traffic cameras monitor the flow of traffic or the depth of a queue waiting for a signal. They allow for automated optimization of traffic signal timing, real time monitoring by police and highway departments, and public feeds to news outlets and the Internet.
Traffic cameras have a few main things in common:
- They are larger than Opticom type systems, but are still fairly compact
- They may point in any direction depending on what they are monitoring
NOTE: Traffic cameras may be installed along side of Red Light Cameras to provide additional views of suspected violations. Be sure to validate the existence or absence of Red Light Camera equipment as well.
Red Light Cameras
Red light cameras monitor an intersection and trigger when traffic proceeds through the intersection on a red signal. One or more approaches to the intersection may be monitored.
Red light cameras have a few main things in common:
- They have multiple lenses
- They have an external flash
- They tend to be bulky
- They have at least some equipment located behind the monitored intersection (there may be equipment on the other side of the intersection as well)
- They are clearly marked
Driver Feedback Signs
Driver Feedback signs (a.k.a. radar speed sign, radar sign, Vehicle Activated Sign, Your Speed sign, traffic calming sign, etc.) can be either permanently installed or they may be mounted to a trailer which may be moved between locations.
NOTE: There may be a Driver Feedback Sign installed as part of a Speed Camera installation, but a Driver Feedback Sign alone is NOT a Speed Camera.
Speed Cameras (in general)
Speed Cameras are devices which monitor traffic for vehicles exceeding a set maximum speed.
They can be permanently installed or mounted temporarily. Temporary deployments include on trailers, hidden within vehicles, mounted to marked police vehicles, and handheld units.
NOTE: Within Waze, the definition of a Speed Camera is very limited and specific. See the Speed Cameras under Waze Camera Types section for details.
Waze Camera Types
Speed Cameras
These cameras monitor for instantaneous violations of maximum speeds. Systems that monitor average speed over a set distance (such as SPECS) are NOT supported at this time.
Red Light Cameras
Please make sure you only report true Red Light Camera installations and do not confuse other device types. See Know your Cameras above.
Dummy Cameras
It is common in the UK for authorities to install poles and enclosures for traffic enforcement camera which do not contain functional devices.