Have you ever wished the navigation app on your phone would reroute you around traffic, alert you to police, and allow you to send your ETA to someone? If so, you need Waze.

The first time I fell in love with Waze was during Snowpocalypse in Atlanta a couple of winters ago. I was stuck in horrible traffic like everybody else who lives in Atlanta. I decided to turn Waze on to see if it would help. Suddenly, I was rerouted onto side streets through neighborhoods that I did not even realize existed. I got where I needed to be only because of Waze.

One way Waze is different than your regular navigation is that it is interactive. Wazers, as we are called, alert other Wazers to what they can expect on their drive. For instance, you can alert people to an accident, police, traffic slowdowns, construction, hazards in the road, etc. Of course, the driver cannot put the alerts in for safety reasons. A passenger needs to.

A feature I also like to use is that I can send my ETA to anyone I choose. It’s an easy way to let someone know I am on my way. They can actually watch my progress. Although I haven’t used it this way, for parents of new drivers, this is a nice feature for peace of mind.

You can also choose the voice that gives you directions. Right now, my Waze is set on “Elvis.” Yes, Elvis helps me navigate through the streets of Atlanta every day. “Thank you, thank you very much (read with an Elvis intonation).”

Really, the only negative to Waze is that it eats up your phone battery. I only use it when I can plug in my phone. I highly recommend this navigation tool! If you use it, I would love to hear your thoughts!