Waze will warn drivers about cyclists. Will this new feature improve safety?
In the article:
- How does the new cyclist warning in the Waze app work?
- Why does RPO want regulations on bike lanes clarified?
- How many people died in accidents involving cyclists in 2025?
Waze app will alert you to cyclists nearby
Drivers using Waze may soon receive additional warnings about cyclists in their vicinity. This is the result of a partnership between Garmin and the creators of the popular navigation app. The solution utilizes Garmin LiveTrack, which allows sharing location data during sports activities.
How does it work? In short, a cyclist using a compatible Garmin Edge counter or smartwatch from this brand can enable location sharing through the Garmin Connect app. This allows their presence to be indicated to drivers using Waze — a moving cyclist icon will appear on the map, with a warning displayed in the vicinity.
Garmin emphasizes that the solution aims to raise drivers’ awareness and help them react in a timely manner. The company’s representative, Susan Lyman, described it as a tool that provides drivers with “valuable real-time visibility” and helps create safer conditions for all road users.
What about privacy?
Sharing your location is voluntary and is limited to the duration of the ride. Drivers will not see a specific cyclist’s name, identity, or exact route. Alerts are automatically turned off after the activity ends. It’s important to remember, however, that the system only covers people using compatible Garmin devices who have chosen to share their location. Waze also states that warnings are primarily intended for highways and routes outside urban areas, and their availability depends on the country.
RPO wants changes to regulations on bike lanes
The new feature may improve drivers' awareness of road conditions, but it won’t solve all issues related to cyclists’ safety. One of these is the ambiguity surrounding traffic priority at bike crossings. It’s worth recalling that the Ombudsman for Civil Rights brought this to attention, requesting in September 2026 that the Minister of Infrastructure review the current regulations. The Ombudsman points out that the laws do not provide cyclists entering a crossing with as clear protection as pedestrians crossing an intersection.
According to current regulations, a driver approaching an intersection must exercise extra caution and yield to a cyclist already on the intersection. However, there is no similar explicit provision regarding someone who is just about to enter the intersection — writes interia.pl.
The issue is significant also because bike lanes often run along sidewalks, with bike intersections adjacent to pedestrian crossings. This can lead to the mistaken belief that the rules of precedence are identical in both cases.
The spokesperson suggests considering refining the regulations to make the rules clearer for both drivers and cyclists. Any changes, however, should also address the responsibilities of cyclists themselves, including the need to be cautious and adjust speed before entering an intersection.
Over 3,400 accidents involving cyclists
The scale of the problem is reflected in police statistics. According to the National Police Headquarters, in 2025 cyclists were involved in 3,425 road accidents. 155 cyclists died in these accidents, while 3,075 people were injured. Compared to 2024, the number of such incidents decreased by 340, or 9 percent.
The vast majority of accidents occurred in built-up areas, where 2,996 incidents were recorded, resulting in 73 deaths. However, the data regarding roads outside built-up areas is particularly concerning. There were 429 accidents there, but as many as 82 people lost their lives. This means that in one in five such incidents, there was a fatal victim.
Oskar Włostowski