According to the National Safety Council, road accidents killed more than 40,000 people in 2017. It is the second consecutive year the United States has had fatalities close to this figure.
While carmakers have modernized car safety features to prevent accidents, the death toll remains high. Many of these deaths were preventable if the driver was not speeding, drunk, fatigued or distracted.
Make sure you and your passengers are safe while on the road. Here are some gadgets that you might want to consider investing on!
WEARABLE WAKE UP DEVICE
Have you ever fallen asleep on the wheel? It’s a terrifying feeling, and one that can be avoided with the use of a wearable wake up device. Worn around the forehead like a headband, the U-Wake monitors the electrical pulses in your brain and calculates fatigue level. The U-Wake smartphone app then alerts you as well as your family and friends to keep you awake.
SMART DRIVING ASSISTANT
Smart driving assistants monitor your driving habits. Through a small camera installed on your dashboard, the device monitors your lane position, distance from the car in front of you, and other information. It analyzes data in real time and sends visual and audible alerts if there is a potential problem.
180° REARVIEW MIRROR
Instead of the standard 52° stock mirror, a rearview mirror with 180° field of view shows you all of the vehicles behind you across an entire five-lane highway. This alerts you of adjacent vehicles and reduces the headlight glare of trailing vehicles by 50 percent. It easily clamps to your existing rear view mirror so you don’t have to replace it.
360° BLIND SPOT MIRROR
Driving through a crowded street, or parking in reverse, can be difficult. Installing a 360° blind spot mirror widens the viewing angle of your side mirrors. As a result, you will have a clearer view of your surroundings when maneuvering the vehicle.
CAR MONITORING APPS
No matter how thorough you are when it comes to car maintenance, problems do show up – and sometimes, in the worst time possible. Car monitoring apps such as Engie help drivers keep track of the status and health of important parts of a vehicle. When a malfunction is detected, the app alerts the driver immediately. According to its French manufacturer, Engie can diagnose more than 10,000 car faults.
SIGNAL JAMMER
Plugging this transmitter into the OBD-II port of your car blocks phone signals so you won’t be able to send text messages, access emails, make phone calls, and browse the Internet while the car is moving. It automatically unblocks the signal when the car stops or when a hands-free device is connected to your phone.
EMERGENCY ESCAPE TOOL
In cases of emergency, a small escape tool can be a lifesaver. This clever little keychain works two ways. First, it is a stainless steel hammer that can break window glass when needed. Second, it is a razor-sharp blade that lets you cut the seat belt in case you are stuck.
DIGITAL TIRE GAUGE
Tire manufacturers highly recommend that car owners check the pressure at least once a week. Low tire pressure increases the chance for puncture, loss of traction, and vehicles going wayward. Digital tire gauges are designed to measure pressure instantly. Some devices offer multiple monitoring that also checks temperature and battery voltage.
PEPPER SPRAY
In order to stay safe on the road, you need to protect yourself at all times. If your car breaks down, or you get a flat, it’s important to be aware and alert. In case a carjacker was to give you a hard time, pepper spray allows time for escape.
CAR SAFETY KIT
Go all out for a discounted price, with a car safety kit that has everything you could ever need for protection or an emergency. A collection assembled with pepper spray, a first aid kit, and 3-in-1 emergency auto escape tool, you will never be unprepared.
