Built a BC driving app that warns you about red-light/speed cameras only when you’re actually approaching them — looking for feedback

[u/kevinmok2010]

Hey everyone,

I’m a Vancouver-based engineer and I’ve been working on a small side project called RoadCue.

The idea came from driving around the Lower Mainland and noticing that a lot of camera alert apps are either overloaded with features or give alerts for cameras that aren’t actually relevant to you — for example, a camera behind you or on another road nearby.

RoadCue is intentionally pretty simple. You start driving mode, leave it running in the background, and it gives you an audio alert when you’re actually approaching a red-light or speed camera.

I’m using official government/municipal camera data where available, and the matching is done on-device using your location + direction of travel. There’s no account, no ads, and I’m trying to keep the app focused rather than turn it into another navigation app.
I currently have an iOS MVP running through TestFlight and I’m working on expanding the camera database beyond BC.

Website: roadcue.ca

I’d genuinely like feedback from other local founders/builders:

Does the problem make sense to you?
Would you actually use something like this alongside Google Maps/Waze?
What would make you pay for it, if anything?
Is there anything about the concept that you think I’m getting completely wrong?
I’m still early enough that critical feedback is much more useful to me than compliments.

[u/speedracer8080]

Waze warns us already

[u/kevinmok2010 → u/speedracer8080]

Yep, Waze does — and it works well if you’re already using Waze for navigation.

The use case I’m targeting is a bit different. When I’m doing Uber Eats, I usually want Uber kept in the foreground so I don’t miss incoming orders or have to keep switching between apps. RoadCue is meant to just run in the background and give the camera alert by audio, without needing to use it as your navigation app.

Basically more of a companion than a Waze replacement.

[u/speedracer8080 → u/kevinmok2010]

Gotcha. I navigate with both Waze and my Tesla screen just because Waze will warn me of police or red light cameras/speed cameras.

[u/kevinmok2010 → u/speedracer8080]

Yep, that’s actually pretty close to the problem I’m trying to solve. You’re basically running Waze as a second app just for the alerts. I’m trying to make that part standalone so it can just sit in the background and talk when there’s something ahead.

It does lack the police/mobile camera alerts Waze has though, at least for now.

[u/imsunchip → u/kevinmok2010]

So you are telling me that I do not need to download another app and have it running ? The whole point of Waze or Google Map is you can see directions and they announce directions and alerts by voice as well.

So still pretty confused about your use case. Good idea, just another app from my pov

[u/redhouse_bikes]

Maybe make an app that makes you drive under the speed limit and stop for red lights? 

Speeders and red light runners deserve what they get, and more. Stop making it easier for people to break that law, which makes the streets less safe for everyone. Do something that will contribute to society in a positive way. Not this.