It seems Malaysians like Waze, and they like it a lot. The country has the highest number of users in South-East Asia when it comes to the community-based traffic and navigation app, and we’re even ranked among the top five countries globally, The Star reports.
According to the Google-owned concern, Kuala Lumpur has 2.5 million active Waze users, which puts us ahead of Jakarta (two million) and Manila (1.5 million). As you’d expect, most Malaysian users are concentrated in big cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Baru.
Given its strong adoption rate, Waze is – through its ongoing Connected Citizens programme – looking for government partners in the country to share publicly available data to ensure motorists spend less time on the road. It’s currently working with the Selangor state government to allow motorists to file complaints on potholes, which are then channelled to the various local councils for action.
It’s looking to get more agencies – and usable data – on board. According to Waze’s global strategic partnerships manager, Mona Weng, data can include items such as planned road closures due to a major event or construction, and real-time diversions resulting from accidents or emergencies. The info that is available to Waze is then used to guide users around, making for faster and smoother travel.
She said that Waze has over 250 partners worldwide and hopes to secure another 10 in Asia in the next couple of months. These partners include city and state departments as well as government agencies.
Weng added that Waze is hoping to carry out a field trial in Malaysia similar to that it carried out in Jakarta, which saw cars being diverted to different routes during peak hours according to their licence number plates. She said the resulting diversion saw a 19% decrease in driving time.
Last year, Waze listed Malaysia as the best place to drive in the ASEAN region, as measured via its annual Driver Satisfaction Index, which measures overall drivers’ experiences. The country ranked 23 out of 38 countries on the list, ahead of Singapore (32), Indonesia (34) and the Philippines (37).
The survey focused on more than 20,000 monthly active users among 235 cities and towns, and measured six factors – density of traffic, quality of roads and infrastructure, road safety, availability of driver services, socio economics and “Wazeyness” (happiness and thankfulness of Waze users).
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All my female & less male friends & coliqs need Waze to drive around. Roads here too confusing…
Waze makes a lot of peoples life easier irregardless of gender
Extremely useful especially if you are a business person and have to meet clients in strange locations.
overseas all cars got in built gps as standard. Malaysia, only high end cars got. So we use Waze.
I think Waze is far better than gps
we need to use waze cause road signs are so bad. All town planners cannot even speak proper English. Atas kosong.
Almost all road signs r in BM. Sendri phail BM, blame town planners pulak. Atas kosong.
Because Malaysians in general lacks the real sense of directions.
Lebih baik MIMOS mencipta aplikasi berguna seperti Waze dari mengguna wang kerajaan utk melukis rekabentuk 3D Proton.
i prefer to use google map instead.
yeah me too..google maps improved a lot and i think better than waze. the maps showing realtime traffic info and other route options at the same time..and the accurate too..
Waze syncs to Google Map la
Waze is own by Google any data is share between them
Malaysian is smart on road. =)
Huh? Waze still got pipu use? Laggy interface and selow startup. The app is too heavy now. Prefer to use GMaps. Its same same minus all the annoying balloons.
This is because you use cheap under power handphones.
U call S8 cheap?
U use S8? Dun bluff. More like cheapo local phone to go with your Gen 2
because many roadblocks
No wonder many idiot belakang mari my car la even in slow moving traffic…update waze and always folo so close car in front..end up losing money paying the accident victim for updating waze..brilliant
As a seasoned driver, I do not need Waze to tell me where a place is. But I have to say, Waze is like godsent to Malaysians because:
1) it helps us to use a route that beats the traffic jam. Sure the route might be longer in distance but shorter in time taken to reach the intended destination
2) inform us on the accident that takes place
3) inform us on the police presence – either police patrol or even speed trap so we can slow down in time
4) after a night out, it is easier to check road block by the police.
Guna waze nak check roadbloack je
how come? Some people say must boycot Yahudi technologies. Waze and Whatsapp and Intel are Yahudi technologies. So how come it is doing so well in Malaysia?
Core processor oso yahudi tech. So why u no chuck PC from 14th floor and still here tok trash?
Did u live under a tempurung for the whole time dude? Waze is now own by Google. Pls did a research before u post some stupid fact, it show ur atas is really kosong dude!!!
Topkek
Still got this kind of people
You should live in caves
Maybe the caves overpopulated no wonder you came out complain
Malaysia is a 3rd world country. the polis here hide to catch. In developed countries, polis cannot hide and catch. This is NOT allowed in the law as it infringes on a person’s rights as well as privacy.
This is why Malaysians use Waze to see where the polis is hiding.
Time for polis in Malaysia stop being sneaky and hide.
What happen to ur Kunta dupe?
That’s true.. Police will b still hiding, but after a / a fewwarning sign… Not like police in Malaysia.
Yes, not like here. There, they saman u every KM first, then they gip warning.
Umobile even give unlimited data for Waze.
But I personally barely use it. Don’t like it’s cartoon-ish interface, always preferred Google maps.
Waze is a helpful gadget esp when Malaysia roadways are like maze. Strangely, all roads seems to direct to a toll gate….
U selected fastest route. Go to settings and select tool-free route
That is the wisest comment today. Cheers
I think we check on speed-trap before we hit the road has became our habit, especially after the government implement demerit point system.
I am using Waze not because I don’t know the roads but rather to know what is traffic situation and beating the traffic jams. Waze @ ways is the future.
Integrated Transport Information System (ITIS) more brilliant
Too heavy & clunky now. GMaps is the future.
Like everyone said , because of speed trap and roadblock
look at those idiots using d emergency lane! F(@*$&@^&
ALso cos Malaysians have the worst herd mentality in the world.. Willing to queue up hours for crap food.. use waze cos people say ‘use waze’ though Google Maps is superior.
Malaysian are weird ppl. Eager to Q for hours at petrol station becoz of few cent increase of petrol…..while burning more petrol in the process.