I once got stuck in small neighborhood for 2 hours while the freeway was backed up and that was before Waze existed.
In Southern California we have massive urban sprawl most of which is filled with cul-de-sacs within cul-de-sacs. Waze isn't the problem it's just exacerbating it.
The root cause of the traffic problem is the interrelated web of: Sprawl, civic planning failures (insufficient housing near jobs), lack of stable careers (getting long term housing near long term jobs), and generally too many people needing to move too far due to inefficiencies in our society.
This is the problem: these roads weren't build for it and the neighbors are left with busy streets, noise pollution and an increase in traffic.
But they do, if the jam is big enough. Traffic signs literally exist to allow it - their job is to tell you how to navigate roads you don't know. All it takes to detour through a neighbourhood you don't know is paying attention and having a little patience.