Think Safety: Tech Gadgets for Your Car

Here's a roundup of car-oriented tools that deserve your serious consideration.

By Jack Rosenberger

Posted March 11, 2008, at 1 p.m.

Car gadgets are good things to have, especially when they make the experience of driving easier, safer or more convenient. If you've ever been stranded on the side of a highway at night, had to jump-start your car during the biting cold of winter or been blinded by the high beams of the 18-wheeler truck behind you, you'll appreciate these handy, useful gadgets.

Tire Gauges

One quarter of all tires are estimated to be underinflated. Underinflated tires are a no-no for several reasons: A vehicle with under-inflated tires does not handle the road as well as one with properly inflated tires. Plus, properly inflated tires last longer, wear more evenly and are less prone to dangerous blowouts. In addition, underinflated tires hurt your car's mileage, which means you end up spending more time and money at the pump.

To ensure that your tires are properly inflated, you should invest in a high-quality dial or digital tire gauge. Dial tire gauges are very accurate and inexpensive, often costing less than $20. The EZ-Air tire gauge is a step above most dial gauges, as it can be attached to an air compressor hose, so you don't need to switch between a gauge and an air compressor hose when inflating tires. And if you overinflate a tire, the gauge's bleed button enables you to easily remove the excess air.

Digital tire gauges are usually more expensive. For the extra bucks you can get a backlit, programmable LCD display, which lets you enter the recommended pressures for your front and rear tires; an automatic shutoff feature; and, of course, digital accuracy.

Many dial or digital tire gauges are available at auto supply stores and retail stores with an auto department, such as Target. The higher-end, more expensive gauges can be found online.

Self-Charge Auto Jumpers

Your car battery's dead? With a self-charge auto jumper, you can recharge your battery without ever opening the hood. Simply plug the auto jumper into your car's 12-volt cigarette lighter, and your battery will be revived in 10 minutes.

If you have to replace your car battery, some self-charge auto jumpers can retain the presets for your car's computer, radio and clock. Moreover, self-charge auto jumpers can also act as a portable power supply for energy-depleted mobile phones, notebook computers and other electronic devices that can be juiced by a cigarette lighter adapter.

Though similar to self-charge auto jumpers, the Wagan Tech Easy Quick Jumper requires the use of another vehicle. Insert the Easy Quick Jumper's black plug into the cigarette lighter of the working car and insert the red plug into the cigarette lighter of the dead car, start the working car and the dead car's battery will be revived within five to 10 minutes.

Both of these devices cost $40 or less and can be found at auto supply stores, retail stores with an auto department and online.

Emergency Flashlights

No one expects to be stranded on the side of a road with a disabled car, but sooner or later, it happens to just about everyone. The newest generation of emergency flashlights is designed with such a disaster in mind.

The popular MAXSA Emergency Flashlight, for example, boasts an extra-bright bulb for wide-area illumination and an emergency flasher to catch the attention of other motorists. Unlike one-dimensional flashlights, the MAXSA Emergency Flashlight also contains a pair of potentially life-saving tools that, hopefully, you'll never have to use: a built-in hammer for breaking a car window and a metal cutter for those life-and-death situations that require slicing through a jammed seatbelt.

The MAXSA Emergency Flashlight is available at many online auto supply stores. Depending on where you shop, prices can range from approximately $13.95 to $22.95.

Auto-Dimming Rear-View Mirrors

Were you ever driving at night when the motorist behind you didn't realize his or her bright lights were on? An auto-dimming rear-view mirror solves this problem, reducing eyestrain and driver fatigue. These reasonably priced mirrors may also include a digital compass, a thermometer and a map light, as well as HomeLink, Onstar and PathPoint options.

A rear-view mirror with only the auto-dimming feature costs approximately $79. The fancier, feature-heavy versions, which can open estate gates and turn on home lights, cost up to $400. Auto-dimming rear-view mirrors are manufactured by both automakers and aftermarket companies, and are available online and at select specialty auto stores. (Like standard rear-view mirrors, auto-dimming rear-view mirrors are designed and manufactured to conform to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regulations.)

One factor to consider when purchasing an auto-dimming rear-view mirror is its installation, which typically involves removing and re-installing interior panels and trim molding, plus a fair amount of wiring so the new mirror's auto-dimming, temperature and other functions operate properly.

"Auto-dimming rear-view mirrors are tricky to install," says Craig Piersma, director of corporate communications for Gentex Corp., the world's leading supplier of auto-dimming rear-view mirrors to the automotive industry. "Unless you're a car buff or mechanically inclined, it's easier and less frustrating to have a car dealership or a garage install the mirror." Installation fees typically begin at $30.

All of the gadgets profiled in this article share a common characteristic: They are noteworthy, often-inventive improvements on standard, long-established products. The only question that remains is, Are any of them right for you?

Bio: Jack Rosenberger is a senior editor at Ziff Davis Enterprise. In addition to his extensive experience as a technology writer and editor, Jack has written for a wide variety of publications, including American Health, Art in America, Entertainment Weekly, Graphic Arts Monthly, New York, New York Observer, Premiere, Spin, Vegetarian Times and The Village Voice.

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The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of Progressive Casualty Insurance Company or its affiliates.