Introduction
There are only a limited number of situations when segments or venues should be locked to a certain level, as laid out below. This page hope to provide some guidance on when segments or venues may be locked, however this should always be an informed decision made by the editor based on circumstances such as whether a road or place is complete.
This guidance aims to highlight the maximum lock level to be used for the convenience of the community.
If you lock segments, your name will be recorded on them, and you will generally be considered responsible for their state.
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Some userscripts highlight segments and places with suggestions for lock levels. These may not be country-specific and this guidance takes priority at all times. |
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Any editor found mass-editing lock levels simply because this policy suggests a maximum lock level is likely to face a reduction of editor rank and/or removal of AM/CM rights. |
Automatic locks
The UK uses a system that generally protects segments based on the traffic density and, therefore, how critical it is to client routing. This is an entirely objective and automatic system. Segments are assessed and divided into one of five groups. The busiest 2% are eligible for auto locks. Waze periodically reassesses the segment groups, and any auto-locked segment's lock level may change accordingly when this happens.
In the UK, we have chosen to limit auto locks to 4;
| Percentile | auto lock | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| < 98% | Auto (1) | Anyone can edit |
| 98% - 98.5% | Auto (2) | |
| 98.5% - 99% | Auto (3) | All Area Managers |
| 99% - 100% | Auto (4) | All senior Area Managers |
A segment can be manually locked to any level (between 1 and 6), or to it's auto level.
- Unless there are special circumstances, no segment should be manually locked below. It's auto lock level.
- Any segments manually locked at their auto lock level should be set to their auto lock instead. This will allow the periodic reassessment to change the lock levels as appropriate.
- Segments may be manually locked above their auto lock level if required, as detailed elsewhere on this page. For example, all segments of Motorways and their junctions will be manually locked at 5.
- If most of a road is auto-locked at a higher level than a few segments, those segments may be manually locked to the same level.
Segments that should be locked
Motorways
Motorways should be locked at 5, including their associated ramps & junctions. These major routes rarely change without publicly available information and must be protected to keep major routing working. Editing will normally only be done by level 5 editors or UK Country Managers / Admins.
Major Highways (UK Primary Route Network)
Major Highways should be locked at 4. These routes need to be protected to keep primary routing working. Country Managers and senior Area Managers can make necessary changes or verify unlock requests.
Railroads
Railroads should be locked at 3 as they are not likely to change once drawn and serve an important role in preventing polluting speed data to adjacent drivable segments.
Toll Segments
Segments marked with the toll attribute should be locked at 5 to prevent interference. Any toll segment used for toll pricing should also include a Map Comment to reduce the likelihood of accidental changes.
Segments that may be locked
You should not normally be locking segments unless they are complete:
- Segments aligned to aerials / GPS tracks
- Junction geometry adjusted for proper navigation instructions
- Speed limited checked and verified
- Turn restrictions set correctly
- Road type set correctly
- Correctly named.
You should not lock segments unless you regularly visit the forums to deal with unlock requests.
Minor Highways (A Roads)
A-roads may be locked up to 3. Complex junctions or particularly important sections may be locked up to 4 by a local, active AM/CM if considered strictly necessary.
Primary Streets
Only primary Streets classified as B-roads should be locked - and these may be locked up to 3.
Other situations
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The use of a Map Comment should be considered to highlight the following situations before the use of lock levels as they can provide detailed information and the ability for collaboration with other editors. |
Roads not matching aerials
The aerial images supplied by Google get updated at varying intervals across the country. This means changes to the road network are not always shown for some time after they require changing. In this situation, segments may be locked higher than normal to prevent well-meaning editors from correcting them.
Unexpected situations
These are odd situations that occur sometimes. For example: a no-right-turn where you wouldn't expect one; a short one-way segment at the end of a two-way road; a deliberate no-name segment joining double-mini roundabouts.
If you think a feature will likely be reverted by someone who doesn't know what was intended, it may be locked higher than normal.
Vandalism
If an area is subject to repeated bad edits, it may be locked higher than normal. This should only be done after discussion with the community and the approval of the UK Country Admins (who may want to take further action).
Places that should be locked
Important places that take a lot of effort to draw should be locked.
Petrol Stations should be locked at 3 as they provide a key feature in the client for determining fuel prices and nearby searches.
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Access limited Petrol Stations, like Costco, should be lock at 4 due to their specific mapping. |
Car Parks should also be locked at 3 as they are offered as nearby destinations to Wazer routing.
Natural features (Sea, Lakes, Rivers, Forests and Woods) should be locked at 3 as once drawn, they are unlikely to change and are generally simplified when shown in the client, so do not require mapping every minute detail.
Places that may be locked
All other Places that have been edited and are considered complete may be locked up to 2 so that a new user editing them triggers a Place Update Request requiring approval. Places are considered complete when all available details are added;
- Address
- entry point(s)
- External provider linked (Google)
- Website URL
- phone number
- relevant services selected
- opening times
- any other relevant info.
Cameras & LC alerts
Cameras
All types of cameras should be locked to match the lock level of the segment they are placed on to prevent the lock from increasing with editor rank promotions.
Level Crossing Alerts
Level Crossing Alerts should be locked at 5 regardless of segment lock level.
Level 6 locks
On rare occasions, we may need to use level 6 locks. These would include particularly unusual situations such as the previously mapped Time-Based Toll Restriction constructions all around the London Congestion Charging Zone. Since L6 is reserved for the Country Admins, they will all be aware of these locations. If you have a situation that needs a level 6 lock, please post on the forum for discussion.
Staff locks
As the UK is a self-managed community, any segments should no longer be locked to Staff (level 7). Should you encounter a segment that needs editing locked to this level, you should make the usual request in the UK Editor Request Forum.