You know how to drive safely and defensively, defending yourself from the crazy drivers that crawl the roads, but staying safe on the roads requires more than knowing what you’re doing when you’re behind the wheel. Defending yourself against car theft, car-jacking, and resisting the temptation to text while driving are all necessary parts of keeping the roadways a secure place to drive. Whether you want to look into Jacksonville security systems or work with smartphone apps to prevent you from texting, you have plenty of technology based options.
Security Systems
When you lock your car up and walk away, you trust that it’s going to be there in one piece when you get out of your house or the store. Sometimes, this doesn’t always end up being the case. Car thieves may steal valuable pieces of equipment such as your radio, smash your windows for the fun of it, or take your entire car. A Jacksonville security system allows you to have a loud car alarm whenever unauthorized access is gained in your car. The system may also automatically phone police or emergency services, depending on if the car is broken into or you get in an accident. This type of system usually has a recurring fee associated with it to cover the monitoring, but it’s well worth it for the peace of mind that you’ll be able to find your car after it’s been stolen. Another feature some Jacksonville security systems have is a remote brake, which prevents the car from starting after the alarm has been tripped. It also locks the doors so the thief is stuck inside of the car until the police get there.
Anti-theft Apps
Put your smartphone to work as part of an all-inclusive Jacksonville security systems initiative. These apps allow you to use the GPS on your phone to track where your car ended up being taken. If the phone gets stolen with your car, there’s also a chance that the thief will attempt to access the phone to find out personal data on you, such as your login information for financial institutions. Anti-theft smartphone apps snap a picture whenever someone tries to open the phone, so you’ll have some photos of the thief to send to police to help with their reports. With any luck, you’ll be able to track down your car with a combination of Jacksonville security systems, smartphone apps, and quick response on your part. You don’t have to worry about the safety of your car again.
Anti-Texting Apps
Texting and driving is a major problem when it comes to concentrating on the road. Some studies have shown that you actually drive more impaired than if you were drunk. If you have a hard time resisting the temptation of texting while driving even when you know the risks, you may need to take a more stringent measure. Once you have your Jacksonville security systems in place, add an anti-texting app to your phone. This type of app automatically replies to incoming texts to let the person know that you are unable to text back, as you are driving. It uses the accelerometer in your phone to determine when you are driving, and you also have the option of setting it into passenger mode when you aren’t going to be driving. The apps can also instruct anyone with urgent problems to call you directly instead, so having a hands-free answering system in your phone to make it even safer. Bluetooth headsets with voice enabled smartphones are a good combination for this, although you can also get a complete in-car system as well.