South African drivers spend a large portion of their time in their cars each day. In Cape Town alone, drivers spent an average of 49 hours in traffic in 2017, according to the Global Traffic Scorecard.
While we can’t necessarily escape the traffic, there certainly are ways we can make the commute more bearable. Together with Hippo.co.za, we’ve come up with a list of the top four car apps to help South African drivers get through the morning and afternoon commute.
Waze
This traffic app is all about getting drivers around their city as quickly and efficiently as possible. Free on both Android and iOS, the app has numerous functionalities perfect for those who spend a considerable amount of time on the road.
Alerts include notifications about accidents, traffic congestion, malfunctioning robots and police presence, while functionalities include alternative route suggestions, and syncing you and your friends’ arrival times to meetup points.
Car Dashdroid
With its automatic car mode, the Dashdroid app will detect when you begin driving and offer various features and actions while you’re focusing on the road. This handsfree-focused app is free and available on Android.
Features include weather, speed and navigation displays, as well as a voice command functionality so that you don’t have to pick your phone up while you’re driving. The voice command means you can make a call, reply to a message, start your playlist or find a location all while keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.
Drivvo
Drivvo is an all-in-one car management system available on Android and iOS. Keep in control of your car financially by monitoring your petrol spend, service costs and appointments, Car Insurance and any other car-related expenses.
While the basic version is free, and the pro version paid for, the free version does include the majority of the important features. From vehicle performance summaries, and records of expenses, to payment and service reminders, you can ensure you keep your car in tip-top shape at all times.
Torque Pro
While we would like to be prepared for all issues that our cars may face, the reality is that some parts or features may fail when we least expect them to. Torque Pro reduces the element of surprise and helps with reporting any faults your car may be experiencing without your knowledge.
Through a connection with your car’s Bluetooth, the app can report on your car’s performance faults based on scanning relevant fault codes and CO2 emissions. It also sends out warnings when necessary. The app is available on Android and costs a total of R53.65.
While these apps, unfortunately, can’t reduce traffic or help us avoid it entirely, they certainly can reduce the stress we experience on a day-to-day basis during our commute. From alternative route suggestions, and collision alerts, to car management and fault alerts, these travel apps can mitigate the worst of the traffic and should be remembered when Compiling Your Emergency Car Kit.
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