The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) in the US has entered into a data-sharing partnership with Waze, which will see real-time traffic data being provided to the state’s drivers through the crowdsourced navigation app.

Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf said: "As travellers rely more and more on their smartphones for real-time traffic data, this new partnership represents yet another way PennDOT is modernising to keep up with the demands of its customers."

"This new partnership represents yet another way PennDOT is modernising to keep up with the demands of its customers."

Waze will use PennDOT’s road condition reporting data with its users, while the department will use data reported by Waze users to monitor traffic conditions.

PennDOT secretary Leslie S Richards said: "PennDOT is always looking for ways to make it easier and safer to travel on our roadways.

"This partnership will advance our efforts in showing a government that works by improving our data while providing verified information through the app."

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh respectively have more than 417,000 and 80,000 active users every month.

The partnership with PennDOT is part of the Waze Connected Citizens programme, which is intended to ‘help users of the app, along with drivers and local communities collaborate together to improve the accuracy, timeliness and availability of roadway information’, reported Euipmentworld.com.

Waze Connected Citizens programme manager Paige Fitzgerald said: "Waze is only as strong as the information it receives from its users.

"With many Pennsylvanians already using Waze and partnerships with more than 25 US municipalities, including the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Waze already enables and empowers drivers. Our goal is to further connect Pennsylvania cities through this data exchange.

"The immense data PennDOT can contribute to Waze makes them an important partner moving forward."