Police Assist Disabled Vehicles Due to Waze App Error
It’s safe to say that we’ve all gotten lost once or twice throughout the years while driving. What about while using a navigation app such as Waze?
The free GPS navigation software app is used by over 115 million drivers and riders every day. In recent weeks, New Jersey drivers have been misdirected while using Waze trying to make it to their final destination, Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.
“It has come to our attention that an ad was placed, in the WAZE navigation app, for the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa.,” the Jackson Police Department shared to Facebook. “Although the address on the ad lists 1 Borgata Way in Atlantic City NJ, which is correct, the location pinned with the ad is actually in the middle of the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area, near Lake Success.”
The issue began when motorists started clicking on an orange ad logo in the Waze app which was directing them to the wildlife area compromised of more than 12,000 acres. It was reported by CNN that hundreds of Waze app users were misled to the location 45 miles away from the Borgata.
Waze promises a fix to its app that is mistakenly leading drivers to the New Jersey wilderness when they are trying to head to the Borgata in Atlantic City. https://t.co/yneIPYYrRT pic.twitter.com/P9YWIGTibk
— Matt O'Donnell (@matt_odonnell) January 21, 2020
Luckily, police officers were able to assist the stranded cars and direct them back to safety. The Jackson Police Department shared an update to their 19,000 Facebook followers on Monday (January, 20) stating, “A representative from WAZE indicated they are working on the problem and hopefully will have it fixed tomorrow.”
The Google owned app can be used on smartphones and tablet computers allowing drivers to make better choices, take the fastest route possible, and share daily commutes. The global community of Wazers contribute to Waze’s real-time and live-navigation while partnering with cities, transportation authorities, businesses, among others.
