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If you pass through Madrid, or if you live in this city, you will know that there is now a controversial central area that is off-limits to vehicles. At least to those who pollute. It is called Madrid Central, and it is a measure that came into force on November 30, 2018. This is intended to reduce pollution levels in the center of the city, although for this you have to resort to fines if your vehicle is not adapted. But how do you know all this if you only let yourself be guided by the GPS applications on duty? Are Google Maps and Waze ready to let you know about Madrid Central?
We have tested the two applications, both belonging to Google, to see if a route with a destination somewhere in Central Madrid would receive alerts , we would avoid this territory or it would lead us directly to a fine, if we do not drive with eco-responsible vehicles. This is what happened to us.
With Google Maps
The first option is to use Google Maps, Google's most complete tool when it comes to having directions not only as GPS, but as a guide to businesses and streets around the world. It contains including the navigation function, although for this we have to indicate a specific point of destination, choose the type of vehicle and start the route.
Well then, we choose the Puerta del Sol and the car as the vehicle to begin the journey. Up to now, no notice indicates the presence of Madrid Central, or restricts or varies the route, which goes directly from our location to the indicated point.
When driving along this route, Google Maps tells us about fixed radars, but not about the limitation of parking in Central Madrid with a vehicle with a C or B label. Of course, at no time does Google Maps tell us He has asked about our vehicle. So it does not know if we are driving, if we are co-drivers or if we have one type of car or another. With which, it is impossible for him to tell us that we will not be able to park in Puerta del Sol So he directs us there happily and without precautions of any kind.
Searching among the application options, we also did not find the possibility of restricting areas or avoiding them on our way. We only found information about the possibility that the application avoids Madrid Central when there are high pollution alertsBut without it being a resource that we can manage manually.
In short, if you use Google Maps you will be losing information and gaining chances of getting a fine in Central Madrid. As long as your vehicle cannot be parked in this area.
With Waze
Google bought Waze after seeing the progress and possibilities of this application. And, in fact, it has already copied some of its functions in Google Maps. However, it continues to be the best option as a GPS navigator thanks to the community itself, who warns of any danger on the road, as well as mobile radars and other elements that They are not on Google Maps.
We tried to enter the same address in Waze, Puerta del Sol in Madrid. It suggests several routes, as usual. But before starting the march, a warning message appears. Although it appears to us in English, with the title Ticket alert, it is easy to understand what it means thanks to the icon of stickers and area that appears on it.The message informs us that our destination is in an area restricted to traffic that requires a special pass.
The most interesting thing about Waze is that it allows you to add that pass or sticker. If we click on Add pass it takes us to the application menu where we can include toll passes and HOV. On this screen we can click on the Madrid Central local pass to add it to our collection. We only have to do this if we have the corresponding stickers to circulate through this area. That is, if we have a vehicle with 0 emissions or with an ECO sticker. If we have the C or B sticker, we can only circulate, non-stop throughout Central Madrid.
With this, Waze will take us to the chosen destination within Central Madrid. If we don't add our pass, Waze won't take you on roads that are within this area. This will prevent you from being fined or incurring traffic violations.
Conclusions
It is clear, then, that Waze continues to be the best option when driving your car around Madrid. Its community of users indicates elements present on the road practically in real time. You can also specify details of your vehicle, such as having a pass or not for Madrid Central. So, if you need a navigator and you live in or are going to pass through the center of the capital, you'd better use Waze instead of Google Maps.
According to the Google Maps community, this application can also divert you from Madrid Central on days when the protocol has been activated due to high pollution. This is good. The problem is if you have an Eco or 0 emissions vehicle, since not knowing about your car will restrict routes throughout the Central Madrid area during these days. In other words, that will not take you to your destination in Central Madrid even when you can get there legallyA function that we hope can be optional in the future. Or, that it can at least learn from its cousin-sister application to add passes or stickers when driving.
To this day, Waze remains the clear winner in Madrid traffic, with additions such as sharing a route, knowing fuel prices, adding an intermediate stop or specifying these types of passes to circulate through one or the other via. It is our recommendation whether you are traveling through Madrid or not Of course, having both applications installed on your mobile is not a problem either. So make the most of each of them at different times.
Remember, also, that Waze is fully compatible with Android Auto, whether you have a screen with an on-board navigation device or use your mobile as a GPS. You won't lose visibility or functions when using it as a navigator on the dashboard.
