A decree obliges GPS applications to make users aware of their CO2 emissions while driving. They must also indicate the environmental zones (ZFE) and propose alternative routes to use less fuel … or cause less disruption to residents of normally quiet areas.
Large GPS applications need to integrate new functionalities, and quite quickly. By the end of the year, Waze, Google Maps or even Maps will have to try and tell users their “CO2 emissions” when traveling in a motorized vehicle. For motorists, this means that every time you program a route in your favorite application, you will receive new information and advice on how to reduce your carbon emissions, which will also be shown to you according to a calculation that will be “published” shortly. Everything is taken into account: from fuel extraction/refining to the use of your vehicle. Incidentally, here you can find out how it is implemented in practice.
Many changes for applications
Waze needs to adapt and avoid offering routes that take too many back roads© SeatThe decree, signed and presented by Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne, but also by Agnes Pannier-Runacher and Christophe Bechu, provides for this big changes for Waze and Google Maps. Here is the list, which is quite long:
- provide its users with an awareness-raising message regarding the alternatives to using the individual vehicle in an easily accessible manner;
- Integrate all data on scheduled services by December 1, 2022 at the latest
- By December 1, 2023 at the latest, integrate all car-sharing, bicycle, moped, personal mobility device or walking data provided at the point of national access referred to above;
Concretely, the applications must show the user the less “carbon-intensive” alternatives for his trip. Whether in a private vehicle, or with shared means of transport (Waze already offers it with “Wazecarpool”) or even by bike. The “digital travel assistance services” are obliged to show their users at least the information integrated in the database about “in low mobility emission zones”. In other words, You will be warned when you cross an EPZ on your route. Handy, especially in this national mess where the metropolises all have different timetables.
Finally, one line does not go unnoticed: “Digital travel assistance services ensure that this information is continuously reflected in the itinerary proposal sent to the user assistance services strive to offer the user a route that avoids the massive use of secondary roads not intended for heavy trafficin particular by ensuring that the remaining travel time is reduced by at least 10% compared to the route that minimizes the use of secondary roads”.
In fact, this is to prevent applications from sending users onto back roads and areas with normally light traffic a little too easily. Waze, in particular, is seeing an increase in traffic in many quiet areas, with motorists on these back roads being guided by Waze.
Published on 08/13/2022 Updated on 08/13/2022