While it's still possible to drive without using any mobile apps at all, why would you bother when you can get one of the amazing apps on this list to make your trip a little smoother? Google Maps Available free on both Android and Apple products, the Google Maps app is more than the user-friendly map you can use from your computer's browser. Ever since the company ate Waze, Google Maps has included user-updated traffic information and the ability to automatically update your route to avoid the worst of it. GasBuddy Another free app for Apple and Android, GasBuddy allows you to see the closest and cheapest gas stations near your current location. You can even search other cities and zip codes nearby if you're on the road, and you can win prizes for posting prices. RepairPal More than just an app, RepairPal is a service that certifies mechanics across the country based on the quality and value of their work. The app itself can keep a log of your car's repair and service history, show you how much you should pay for a given service based on your car's model, and find the top-quality car shops in your area. Other helpful smartphone apps include ones that turn your phone into a dashboard cam and ones that let you know about traffic lights and speed cameras. Still, when it comes to the driving apps you should always get, navigation, gas, and repairs deserve the top of the list.
If you’re storing your vehicle and not driving it over the winter, you will want to take a few steps to prepare your car for storage. Here are a few tips to make sure your vehicle is ready to go again when you take it out of storage. Clean and Detail You don’t want to put a car into storage without cleaning it first. Clean the inside of the vehicle, removing all garbage and vacuuming the floor and upholstery. Wash the outside, and follow up with wax to protect the paint finish. Prevent Mice and Rodent Damage If mice or other rodents get into your vehicle while it’s stored they can cause serious damage. While there is no way to guarantee they won’t try to get warm inside the vehicle, you can take a few steps to help make your vehicle less appealing for them. Put mothballs inside old socks and then place the socks inside the vehicle, under the hood, and under the car. If you don’t want to use mothballs, you can also put drier sheets inside your vehicle. Inflate Your Tires Tires will lose air while in storage during the cold winter months and you don’t want your tires to deflate and leave your car sitting on its rims. Ideally you would take the tires off and store your vehicle on a lift to keep the pressure off the tires, but if that is not possible be sure to inflate your tires to the maximum tire air pressure before storing, and to check and fill tires as necessary before driving car out of storage. Remove Battery Remove and store your battery separate from your vehicle so it doesn’t drain the power over the winter. Alternatively, you can connect the battery to a trickle charger or battery tenders. The charger you use should have an automatic shutoff feature or float mode so it stops charging when it has full power to avoid overcharging the battery.
Whether you are new to the area or a seasoned snow driver, driving on ice and snow can be challenging and downright nauseating. Sliding tires, loss of traction, speeding cars, and icy roads all edge us closer and closer to an anxiety attack. What are the best strategies to conquer winter-driving phobia? Signs You May Have Winter-Driving Anxiety You know the feeling when you see the weather forecast or look out the window and see the white stuff. If you have anxiety, you will recognize the obsessive habits. Checking your phone or the weather constantly Calling in sick to avoid driving Hyperventilating when behind the wheel Rapid heartbeat and sweating when driving Crying when driving or thinking about driving Tips to Help You Manage Snow Driving Anxiety If you become anxious when you have to drive in the snow, consider a few tips to make your drive a little easier and stress-free. Don’t start the drive with dread. You need to put yourself in the mindset to drive. Talk to yourself to calm yourself down. Remind yourself that you are going to make it and that you are a confident, capable driver. If you feel anxious, take at least three deep breaths. Leave early. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. If you have to, leave before or after commuting traffic is less severe on the road. When you are driving, don’t allow panicked reactions to drive the car. You are in control. Many times your initial reaction is to slam on the brakes, but your brakes can do more harm than good in many situations. Practice safe-driving techniques: stay at least 12 seconds behind the car in front of you, accelerate slowly, give yourself extra time to stop, and slow way down before you turn or move to the side, and wear your seatbelt. Take a driver’s education class that focuses on winter driving.
