Written by Social Monsters

When we think about road trips, the risk of potential hazards and safety issues rarely come to mind. Instead, we think about all of the fun we will be having driving across the country with our families. But there is a risk. Today, new technology is being used to keep drivers safer on the roads. Here’s some of today’s top tech to consider for your next road trip.

Never Lose Service, Even in Remote Areas

Oftentimes road trips take us through remote parts of the country, where cellphone service is non-existent. The small problems caused by lack of cellphone service like not having a solid connection to play Pandora or Spotify or not being able to update your status on Facebook are not as bad as what can potentially happen without service. If you experience an emergency out on the road in a remote area you won’t be able to call for help. Having a satellite phone in your driving safety kit is smart. Roadpost offers a wide range of satellite phones, including Iridium phones. These phones rely on 66 low, Earth-orbiting satellites that operate as a completely meshed network. A study conducted by Frost & Sullivan found that the Iridium network has the best call completion rates and quality when compared to competitors. In fact, it’s so reliable the U.S. military uses Iridium phones to communicate.

Apps That Predict Road Conditions

Driving in new areas can be potentially hazardous. From not knowing the conditions or simply not knowing if the roads take a twist or turn, driving in new territories can pose a number of safety risks. However, you can stay safe by using an app that alerts you of road and traffic conditions in real-time. Download the world’s largest community-based navigation and traffic app, Waze, to stay safe on the road. Waze will alert you of any accidents, traffic jams and road hazards before you approach them. Additionally, Waze can help you save on gas, too. The app will steer you in the right direction to help you find the cheapest gas prices on your road trip. Remember, don’t use apps and drive, instead have a passenger navigate the app for you. The Waze app is available on Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

Driver Night Vision

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reports that 49 percent of fatal accidents happen at night. And according to data fromAuto Liv, the risk of an accident is nearly four times greater at night than in the daytime. That’s why the safety technology company created a night vision system that can help drivers navigate the roads safely after dark. The company believes that headlights aren’t enough, as they only illuminate up to a distance of 44 yards ahead of a vehicle. Anything past this point is rarely seen by the driver. Hazards like fallen rocks or even animals like deer can cause serious harm to your family and heavy damage to your vehicle. The night vision system uses infrared technology to detect hazards up to three times farther than the standard range of headlights, giving drivers more time to react. The sensor is mounted to the vehicle’s grill, if something is detected, the object is highlighted in yellow on an in-cab screen that can be seen by the driver. If the object is in the vehicle’s path, the object will turn red, alerting the driver of the risk. You can avoid accidents by using a night vision system on your next road trip.