What’s up with technology? Using technology to improve your trip.
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AAA thinks that 42 million Americans will go on trips over the Memorial Day weekend. Since 2000, that’s the most. Most of those people will be on the highway, meaning there will be more traffic, drive times will be longer, and petrol prices will increase.
People probably won’t stay home because of that, so if you plan to drive somewhere for the holidays, you should expect to spend more time on the road.
There are a few things you can do before you leave the house to make the car ride as fun as possible, save money on gas, and ensure your devices are charged and connected.
If you’re in a car and not using Waze as a GPS, you’re going the wrong way. Apple Maps is easy to use and has gotten better for iPhone users, but many more people use Waze and are constantly updated with new information about traffic, dangers, and police presence.
It’s not completely hands-free, and you can’t make it the iPhone’s default GPS app. If you ask Siri to “give me directions,” it will open Apple Maps. However, if you say, “Launch Waze and give me directions to,” Waze will give you directions and traffic information.
Gas costs go up during the summer holidays. The best way to find the best price while driving down the highway is to use the GasBuddy app. Many travellers use it, and prices are usually changed daily if not every hour. You could save a lot of money without driving out of your way. From this current search, we can see that the prices vary by 29 cents per gallon. Help other travellers out by changing the price when you fill up.
If your internet link gets slow on the highway, try this: turn on aeroplane mode for 3 seconds, then turn it off again. This makes the phone trying to find the closest cell tower. From one bar to 5G LTE, you can get all the speed you need.
Ever wonder why your phone doesn’t charge quickly enough while driving? Most cars’ USB ports can only be used to listen to music or connect CarPlay. Get a charger that you can plug into the car lighter. These give out 4-6 amps and charge a phone ten times faster than a USB port. Use a charger and cord from a known brand. Cheapos at petrol stations aren’t safe or fast and can get too hot.
You might also need to look for the cigarette lighter. Many of them are tucked away in the centre panel, and I’ve seen a few hidden under the passenger’s legroom. Also, get a long charging cable for the people in the trunk.
AAA says the best times to drive over the Memorial Day weekend are Thursday and Friday before 1 p.m. and noon and Monday before 10 a.m. If not, the weekend will be the busiest time for you.
