Distracted driving is one of the leading causes for accidents across the country, and now touch screens are to blame.
Best dashcams for 2024
Fourth of July is right around the corner, and we’re in for record-breaking holiday traffic. Some 71 million people are expected to travel over 50 miles during the week — the most on record.
I don’t mean to be a downer, but record-setting travel also means record-setting accidents, crashes and road rage. And being a defensive driver isn’t the only way to protect yourself on the road.
You should have a dashcam
Imagine if this happened to you. An Oklahoma City driver laid on his horn when an SUV started drifting in his lane. Things escalated quickly. The SUV driver swerved to block the honking driver, then pulled a gun and shot him.
Thankfully, the victim made a full recovery and his dashcam recorded it all. Police identified and arrested the gunman, and justice was served thanks to that footage.
I’ve said it for years: The police have dashcams for good reason and you should, too. They record what happens in front of your car, behind your car and in your car.
Key cam considerations
Let’s start with the obvious: The ability to record footage. If you’re in an accident and not at fault, it’s easier to prove if you have it on tape.
Better dashcams can detect crashes and send out an emergency response, and some can even notify you with a beep if you stray from your lane. Nice upgrade for an older car! Some also have parking mode with break-in sensors that sound an alarm and record the whole thing.
🔏 Privacy tip: Pay attention to the user agreement no matter what model you buy. Opt out of anything you can, like third-party sharing.
These 3 dashcams check my important boxes
You want a dashcam that comes with a mount, records in high-def (at least 1080p), has night vision built in, has an app you can use to check your footage, a wide-angle lens and built-in GPS. Here are three that fit the bill:
Sky-high car insurance rates? Blame it on all the tech in our cars
My car insurance just went up 32%. Did I have an accident or get a few tickets? Nope. Since 2020, car insurance rates in the U.S. have risen by a whopping 37%. The main reason? High-tech vehicles — aka anything remotely new — cost way more to repair. And you don’t need to have a high-tech car to feel the pinch. It’s hitting everyone.
The Waze of the future: Google Maps is baking in Waze’s real-time incident reports. You’ll get alerts for accidents and speed traps reported by Waze’s 140 million active users. It’s rolling out slowly, so be patient if you don’t have the intel yet. (Yes, Google owns Waze.)
Tech to track teen drivers
Teens are the most likely to get into accidents out of all age groups. Let’s unpack that.
No robo-driver for me: A new study finds self-driving cars are generally safer than human-driven ones with one big exception: They’re over five times more likely to crash at dawn or dusk. But wait, there’s more! They’re nearly twice as likely to have an accident while turning. Let’s not forget videos like this.
7 months later
A Utah couple tied the knot after a skiing accident. Amazing story: Mitchell forgot Jenna broke up with him the day before the accident. He had a concussion and started texting her when he woke up like nothing happened. They officially got back together a month later, and now, it’s happily ever after.
Tidy your tech: Best cable organization and cord management options
Everyone seems to own laptops, smartphones, desktop computers, Internet of Things devices and so much more. It’s great to be connected, but what isn’t great is all those tangled cords.
Thankfully, there are tons of organizing tools to choose from. Whether you want to hide those cables swinging from your TV or move the wires out of your way on your computer desk, we’ve got the right organizers for you.
This cheap tool can help you spot whether a used car has been in an accident
You should know everything about a vehicle before buying it, but sellers don’t make it easy to understand all the necessary information. In fact, some could be trying to hide details so you don’t get the car for a lower price.
😔 Tragic accident: Four people died after their Tesla Model Y crashed into a pillar and burst into flames. A bystander smashed a window open, saving a fifth passenger. So sad. If you have a Tesla, watch this video so you know how to open the doors when there’s no power.
Sad reality: Thieves are stripping copper and other metals from streetlights, statues and even gravestones. They sell it to recyclers for anything from a couple of bucks to a few hundred dollars. The worst part? People are dying because of it; missing streetlights mean more accidents.
102,000 live salmon
Spilled out of an overturned truck in Oregon. The accident took place just feet from a river, and wow — 77,000 fish made it into the water and survived. The cause of the accident is unclear, but it was probably just a fluke.
Oopsy-daisy: A typo sent Lyft’s stock soaring 35% to a 52-week high of $16.39 per share. Turns out its profit margin got an extra zero, and boy, oh boy, did investors jump on it. From 50 to 500 basis points? Talk about a happy accident.
Read this before you hop on a rental scooter this summer
Like millions of Americans, you’re probably planning your summer vacation. Don’t forget to take some precautions before you leave town. Tap or click here for five travel tips to keep you safe.
Once you visit an unfamiliar city, you might decide to rent a scooter to get around. Technically known as shared mobility devices, they have become a common sight around tourist areas. Like how bicycle rentals work, you simply swipe your bank card, and a scooter is made available.
Reader question: 'Can you help me pick a dashcam?'
Uber and Lyft have become overwhelmingly popular in America to make extra cash. Drivers can sign up in minutes, fill in their information and be up and running as an employee in just a few days.
But using your car to earn income comes with liability issues. What if you get into an accident or one of your riders becomes combative? Even if you don’t drive for a living, proving fault in a crash can be difficult. To avoid he said she said, you’ll need to protect yourself.
Generators sold at Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco and more recalled for finger amputation and crushing hazards
A portable generator is handy to have around the house when the power goes out or to take on a camping trip for electricity. They should always be used with caution and operated in a manner that won’t harm others.
Unfortunately, accidents do happen. Whether it is through negligence or not paying attention, many people have been injured while using heavy equipment.
7 life-changing phone alerts you need to enable right now
No matter what your phone’s notification settings are, you’ll still receive messages from the national wireless alert system. These texts are a 21st-century version of the test patterns you used to see on TV: “In the event of an actual emergency, you would have been instructed to tune to one of the broadcast stations in your area…”
Add peace of mind to your trips with these amazing dashcam deals
Accountability is everything when it comes to driving. That’s the reason cars come equipped with mirrors, turn signals and other non-verbal ways to communicate with other drivers.
But when an accident occurs, it’s your word versus the other person’s. Your insurance can mediate between both parties, but in a complicated crash, it ultimately becomes a game of he-said-she-said. Tap or click here to see how Google’s new app can detect car crashes and call 911.
10M more vehicles added to the biggest auto recall in history
Cars are essential tools for daily life, but they can also be deadly weapons in the wrong hands. That’s why you have to jump through so many hoops to be allowed to drive, and why insurance is a must for any driver, regardless of experience.