Waze speed camera detection: how to activate the essential setting

As roadside checks become more frequent and next-generation speed cameras appear across the road network, many drivers are looking for legal ways to adjust their driving. Among the available options, the Waze app stands out as a valuable aid, provided you know how to make the most of its features. Contrary to popular belief, speed camera detection is not enabled automatically: a specific setting must be adjusted for it to work properly.

Waze is more than a standard sat-nav. The app, the undisputed market leader in France, provides live updates on traffic conditions, accidents, roadworks and, of course, enforcement zones. Its real strength is its collaborative approach: millions of users add information every day, creating a genuine support network for drivers.

The contrast with Google Maps, its fellow Alphabet-owned app, is clear. Waze retains an advantage through dedicated features such as reporting danger zones, real-time fuel and toll price updates, and alerts about roadside checks.

Enable Waze speed camera detection alerts

However, you must activate one particular setting to use speed camera detection. Here is how to do it:

1. Open the app and go to “My Waze”.
2. Find the cog icon for settings.
3. Choose “Alerts and reports”.
4. Then select “Reports”.
5. Turn on the toggles for the alerts you want to receive.

To get more from the app, remember to set up audio alerts too. Tap the speaker icon at the bottom right of the home screen to choose either “Alerts only” or “Sound on”. This customisation can make a real difference on your journeys.

Contribute to the Waze community

Waze works best because of its active community. You can become an informed “Wazer” too by reporting events you encounter on the road. Have you spotted a vehicle stopped on the hard shoulder, a stray animal or a particularly slippery stretch of road? It takes only a few seconds to warn other drivers. To submit a report:

1. Locate the orange triangle icon at the bottom right.
2. Pick the relevant incident type from the available options.
3. Confirm your report.

Danger zones and responsible driving

Please note that, under current legislation, the precise locations of fixed speed cameras are no longer displayed directly. Only danger zones are shown, while alerts for mobile speed cameras may be temporarily limited during special operations.

In every situation, speed camera detection is useful only for preventing lapses in concentration, which are particularly common on long journeys. It is certainly not intended to encourage dangerous driving; quite the opposite. With or without speed camera detection, your anticipation and attention remain your best allies for driving safely.