Waze can alert you to speed cameras: here’s how to enable detection.

As roadside checks become more frequent and next-generation speed cameras appear across our roads, plenty of drivers look for lawful ways to adjust their driving habits. One of the most useful tools is Waze-provided you know how to get the best out of it. Despite what many assume, speed camera detection is not enabled by default and needs a couple of settings changes to work properly.

Waze is far more than a basic sat-nav. Widely used in France, it stands out for delivering live updates on traffic conditions, crashes, roadworks and, crucially, enforcement areas. Its real advantage is its collaborative approach: millions of users add information every day, building a genuine mutual-help network for motorists.

The contrast with Google Maps-its Alphabet stablemate-is clear. Waze keeps the upper hand thanks to features tailored for drivers: reporting danger zones, live updates for fuel prices and toll charges, and of course alerts for roadside enforcement.

That said, to benefit from speed camera detection you must switch on a specific setting. Here’s what to do:

1. Open the app and go to “My Waze”
2. Find the cogwheel icon (Settings)
3. Choose “Alerts and reports”
4. Then tap “Reports”
5. Turn on the toggles for the alerts you want

To make the most of it, remember to set up sound notifications too. By tapping the speaker icon at the bottom-right of the home screen, you can pick between “Alerts only” and “Sound on”. This small bit of personalisation can make a real difference on the road.

Play your part in the Waze community

Waze’s usefulness depends on how active its community is. You can be a savvy “Wazer” too by reporting what you encounter while driving. A car stopped on the hard shoulder? An animal roaming near the carriageway? A stretch of road that’s especially slippery? It only takes a few seconds to warn other drivers. To submit a report:

1. Tap the orange triangle icon at the bottom-right
2. Select the incident type from the options shown
3. Confirm your report

A key point: under current legislation, the exact locations of fixed speed cameras are no longer displayed directly. Only danger zones are indicated, and alerts about mobile speed cameras may be temporarily limited during special operations.

In any situation, speed camera detection is only truly helpful for avoiding lapses in concentration-something that often happens on long journeys. The goal is absolutely not to encourage risky driving; quite the opposite. With or without camera alerts, your anticipation and attention remain your best allies for travelling safely.