Waze to run with voice commands soon

MANILA, Philippines -  Traffic and navigation application Waze will soon incorporate some upgrades to make it more compliant with the country’s Republic Act 10913 or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act, an official of the company said yesterday.

Waze’s global strategic partnerships manager Mona Weng said the app will soon run with voice commands, which can recognize the Filipino language, to help local motorists comply with the new law that will take effect on July 6.

This means drivers need not touch their mobile phones to input instructions into Waze, which is said to be the world’s largest community-based traffic and navigation app that uses the global positioning system (GPS) of mobile phones and tablets to help users navigate roads.

“You can actually update your destinations with voice commands, so that way, you don’t have to touch the phones at all,” Weng told GMA News TV.

“We’re releasing a whole suite in Tagalog with both the voice navigation which will include street names and a Tagalog voice command,” she said.

The new features are expected to be released in the middle of July, according to the Waze executive.

Weng said the app can easily be used in the “safe zone” mandated by the law, which states that navigational aids can be placed on top of the dashboard not exceeding four inches in height.

The anti-distracted driving law was initially implemented last month but was suspended after its implementing rules and regulations drafted by the Department of Transportation were found to be inconsistent with the law itself.

The law prohibits drivers to make or receive calls, make or read text messages, play games and browse the internet while driving, among others.