Gas prices are rising. It’s impossible to escape traffic. And suddenly your car feels like a prison cell instead of the liberating vehicle it was when you first sat in a driver’s seat.
Yes, driving can be a pain when you have to deal with all the challenges and injustices of car ownership and commuting. But with the help of some mobile apps, it doesn’t have to be all that bad.
Here are nine useful apps* that will help you find cheap gas, beat traffic congestion, keep your car in top shape, and maintain your behind-the-wheel sanity. We start with the Waze traffic app pictured above. Just remember not to fidget with these apps while actually driving. Safety first is a Gadget Lab credo.
*Unfortunately, there are no apps to banish rude drivers from the road.
Waze
Imagine working with other local drivers to make your commute shorter and easier. You might even be able to stave off the road rage you feel every time you’re behind the wheel.
With Waze, you’re immediately connected to a network of local drivers who contribute to traffic information and road reports on obstacles such as construction zones, police traps, accidents, and more. You can also join Waze groups and connect with friends via Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare. The more people who use Waze, the more information it provides to its network of drivers. And, luckily, Waze already has a strong and growing community, making it a truly useful app.
You can also use Waze to receive turn-by-turn driving directions on a live map. In fact, the app automatically checks for the latest traffic information and will re-route directions based on traffic conditions to provide the quickest commute. And while you’re moving along your route, you’ll see nearby Waze drivers and road reports on your custom map.
The magic in Waze is that it collects users’ GPS locations while they are driving, and adds that data to its traffic logs. In order for Waze to collect the data, however, the app needs to be active in the foreground of a device.
Waze also adds an element of fun -- driving doesn’t need to be a drag -- with its scoreboard and cute mood icons. You earn points for how many miles you drive, and you can choose your own mood icon -- from “speedy” to “LOL” -- for other drivers to see.
Free; available on the
App Store and
Google Play
