Are driver's here using Waze or anything similar?

[Guest siamjourney]

There are many GPS Android apps available and I'm wondering if anyone knows what's popular in Thailand?  Waze is interesting in that it allows users to mark activity at their current location as they travel.  They can indicate an accident site, construction area, traffic jam, or even police radar.  Does anyone use Waze here or anything similar?

 

[lordblackader]

I gave Waze a shot a while back here, unlike Western countries it doesn't seem to have many local users so it makes no sense over Google Maps which I've used to navigate the whole of the North and upper North East. 

[Guest siamjourney]

Google Maps is fine but it doesn't have the 'live update' features I mentioned.

[Sandy Freckle]

I use Waze while 'in country'(LOS)...., and back home. I've always found it very accurate...., so long as there's a signal.

Edited March 21, 2017 by Sandy Freckle

[taotoo]

As I just discovered tonight, google maps gives excellent traffic info - presumably due to the sheer number of users.

[alant]

OsmAnd, very up to date maps, there is a free version good if you want less than 6 maps, you download maps so not on line. Very comprehensive.

Tried HERE as well but they did not respond to my communication.

[freebyrd]

Waze? - the way they 'drive', most don't even know how to use a steering wheel properly.

[leither69]

15 hours ago, siamjourney said:

Google Maps is fine but it doesn't have the 'live update' features I mentioned.

It does have "traffic problems ahead" certainly in bkk,  i have noticed this over last few months.  

[toofarnorth]

I use both versions.....byways .

[laislica]

I use Sygic Navigator

It has offline maps so I don't need an internet data connection as long as my iPad or smart phone has GPS receivers.

You need a wifi connection to download the map(s) or updates.

I went for the world, lifetime maps and bought a few toys like the head-up display and the cockpit, dash cam etc.

You can try it for free and download just one map and it will be fully functional for 7 days.

After that. it continues to work but it stops talking.....

 

[irwinfc]

i use Waze most of the time. it's good for routes that you have traveled on before as it "learns" preferred routes. it has, however, taken me to dead ends twice. also, some of its route choices are a bit undesirable - mostly maneuvers that locals  prefer to make (e.g. cutting through traffic to make a U-turn, make 90-degree turns via U-turn slots, etc.)

[lordblackader]

4 hours ago, leither69 said:

It does have "traffic problems ahead" certainly in bkk,  i have noticed this over last few months.  

Does in Chiang Mai as well. 

[peter267]

Google Maps gets pretty good traffic data -  put in a metropolitan Bangkok address that needs 'crossing town'  it gives a very plausible journey time adjusting for likely  hold ups at the time of journey.   A 20 minute drive at night on empty becomes 75 minutes stop go journey in the morning  My guess is that somehow Google are getting the best data from every switched on smart phone that are sitting in cars. I Installed Wuze for a bit but don't want to be reporting every traffic accident location I see in Thailand that will really  slow journeys up and make me question should I be on roads  with such poor odds for an accident. 

 

Sure Google Maps go crazy sometimes but so don't most of us who come from overseas to live here.   

 

 

[Docno]

2 hours ago, laislica said:

I use Sygic Navigator

It has offline maps so I don't need an internet data connection as long as my iPad or smart phone has GPS receivers.

You need a wifi connection to download the map(s) or updates.

I went for the world, lifetime maps and bought a few toys like the head-up display and the cockpit, dash cam etc.

You can try it for free and download just one map and it will be fully functional for 7 days.

After that. it continues to work but it stops talking.....

 

I use Sygic too. So much, in fact, my girlfriend calls it my 'mia noy' because I trust in more than her. That said, it does sometimes mess up on routes in back country Isaan ... tries to send you in circles or directs you down buffalo tracks. But we have to be realistic in our expectations, I guess...

[CharlieH]

5 minutes ago, Docno said:

I use Sygic too. So much, in fact, my girlfriend calls it my 'mia noy' because I trust in more than her. That said, it does sometimes mess up on routes in back country Isaan ... tries to send you in circles or directs you down buffalo tracks. But we have to be realistic in our expectations, I guess...

One of the ways I found to avoid this (buffalo track) was setting it to "fastest" and not "shortest" route. Still get the odd issue but I found it much better. Just a suggestion.?

[balo]

I also use google maps and the traffic info is pretty accurate. Because almost every driver in Thailand use google maps it will update the traffic info. 

Don't see any point in downloading another app .  

 

[khunphil]

Google map is "linked" to Waze, they are sharing informations, I've read this somewhere. The colour of roads in Google Maps show you if there is any traffic jam: green is OK, orange is busy, red is full stop. And if you have Google now, it shows you when you are leaving (back home or back to work), if there is any big problem ahead clearly.

 

Waze can de distracting driving, and is not really used here in Thailand. Some foreigner have it nevertheless.

 

Philip.

[Aussie69]

Google map is "linked" to Waze, they are sharing informations, I've read this somewhere. The colour of roads in Google Maps show you if there is any traffic jam: green is OK, orange is busy, red is full stop. And if you have Google now, it shows you when you are leaving (back home or back to work), if there is any big problem ahead clearly.
 
Waze can de distracting driving, and is not really used here in Thailand. Some foreigner have it nevertheless.
 
Philip.

Yes Google purchased Waze in 2013. Much of the subsequent 'social' sharing of Google Maps is a product of that purchase.

[tonboy]

Just bought an car-entertainment system with Android 4.4.2 and build in GPS. Connects to my android phone for data. Furthermore I use the same google account. Google Maps works perfect for this. Sometimes strange routes, but as Google Maps knows where the traffic jams are in CM (or where-ever), I rely on his navigation-skills. This realy nice thing about this is that when I search in Google Maps  on my computer, phone or tablet, for a destination, thess search-results also shows up on Google Maps in my car. So I do not have to put in an adress anymore. Just click on history...

[Awk]

On 3/22/2017 at 11:16 AM, laislica said:

I use Sygic Navigator

It has offline maps so I don't need an internet data connection as long as my iPad or smart phone has GPS receivers.

 

 

Google maps also lets you download maps for offline since some time back, at least for the "local area". 

[Lannig]

I drive a lot in Thailand and I, too, have been disappointed to see that Waze doesn't have enough users here to make it a reliable source for traffic disruptions.

I don't know how Thai drivers share this kind of information. Facebook pages probably? (I'm serious here)

 

Generally speaking, I have found Here Maps to be the most usable application in Thailand if you drive upcountry. The quality of their maps surpasses Waze, Sygic and even Tomtom IMO. At least it does in the parts of Thailand I drive to.

 

Here We Go by its new name has an offline mode and you can download whole country maps.

[HooHaa]

Waze is huge in the philipines, but not so much thailand. It comares to google maps however,. But a little less accurate then when it has a larger userbase providing real time info.