The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) in the US has entered into a partnership with mobile navigation application, Waze, to deliver an improved service through its NaviGAtor 511 traveller information system.

Waze, a crowd-sourced social GPS and real-time traffic application for smartphones, offers voice-based features, such as turn-by-turn navigation around traffic tie-ups; user reporting of road hazards, construction, incidents and congestion; and commands to user-set favourite places.

The smartphone app also offers automated verbal notification of upcoming incidents or conditions.

Under the deal, which is part of an existing marketing contract with Iteris, Waze will create a special 511 user group, specifically for Georgia travellers, within the present mobile app.

Iteris has been operating and maintaining the state’s 511 system since 2006.

A sponsor-supported, free public service of GDOT, the NaviGAtor 511 system delivers real-time, route-specific travel information and round-the-clock access to live operators.

It also delivers information on incidents, road construction and weather conditions across the state.

Waze gathers traffic information from its 29 million users around the world, who provide real-time traffic situations through citizen-based traffic, hazard and incident reporting.

The data collected by Waze will be verified by GDOT, integrated into Inrix’s road sensor, vehicle-probe and historical data and then populated to NaviGAtor 511’s website and phone system.

The Waze app is available for free download in iOS and Android phones.