OJ Simpson's Car Chase Would've Been Way Different If He Used Waze

What if OJ Simpson's car chase had happened today, instead of 20 years ago?

Like any savvy Californian, his driver and buddy Al Cowlings would've used Waze, for starters.

A screenshot of Waze's recommended route for OJ Simpson, taken just after 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Credit:

And knowing that Cowlings would have used the time-saving, real-time routing navigation app, he would've taken a very different route. Cowlings and Simpson left Orange County near El Toro sometime after 6 p.m. on June 17, 1994 -- and they took the straightest shot, by way of the infamous 405 freeway, a route indicated by the pink line in the screenshot above (taken just after 6 p.m. on Tuesday).

But as you can see, Waze could've saved them a couple of minutes (via the blue route, above) by instead shooting up the 241, across Anaheim via the 91 -- a short jaunt up the 605 -- west toward LAX on the 105 and then hooking up again with the 405. (And if that last sentence sounds like SNL's "The Californians" skit to you, then you don't live here because we really just talk like that.)

So what would Al and OJ have encountered during their Waze-routed journey to his home at 360 North Rockingham Avenue? To begin with, the 241 is a lot prettier, with mountains in the background and expanses of scrub brush instead of dense cityscape:

The 241on OJ's route. Credit:

Uh, oh, trouble! Waze is reporting an accident on the westbound 91 (Riverside Freeway) just before the 5 (below). But Waze always knows best, so it must not be too bad:

The 91 Freeway along OJ's suggested new route. Credit:

Seems we got through that OK, so with the few minutes OJ was saving by taking this route, he could've jumped off the short shot up the 605 at Rosecrans to stop for -- what else? -- this In-N-Out Burger (below). Not a bad choice for your last meal as a free man -- and also a very California road-trip thing to do.

The In & Out Burger on Rosecrans just off the 605. Credit:

OJ's new route would've also taken him straight past Compton; just jump off at Alameda and head South. Do it for the street cred OJ!

The Alameda Street exit along OJ's new route. Credit:

At last, we arrive back at the 405 near Hawthorne and we're on the home stretch. By now OJ's cell phone battery has to be getting pretty weak, but there's an emergency call box there now, so he'd be covered in case his mom was ready to talk at this point:

The emergency call box on the approach to the 405 along OJ's new route. Credit:

Jump back on the 405 and we're there! Home free, right OJ?

After all, you're going to be found innocent, right ... ?

OJ Simpson at a Las Vegas court hearing in 2013. Credit: Getty Images