Using Technology to Protect Teenage Drivers

Did you know that teenage drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident than those who are 20 or older? With their relative lack of experience and the constant bombardment of distractions, it’s no wonder that young people are at risk. The aftermarket mobile electronics industry offers a wide variety of systems and solutions that can protect teenage drivers.

Technology Reduces Distractions

While it’s certainly best practice to focus exclusively on the task of driving when behind the wheel, now and then, we need to take an important phone call. Bluetooth hands-free communication became a life-saver in the late 2000s, allowing a driver to talk with someone without having to hold the phone.

There are several ways to add Bluetooth to your vehicle if it didn’t come from the factory with hands-free communication features. A Bluetooth kit from companies like Parrot, Cruz, iSimple and Axxess can operate as a standalone solution or one that integrates with the speakers or radio already in your vehicle.

The second option is to upgrade your factory radio with an aftermarket unit that has Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming capabilities built in. The majority of these solutions also add Siri Eyes Free and may even allow you to pair two phones at once.

For the ultimate in smartphone integration, an aftermarket multimedia receiver with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto adds a wide variety of communication, information and entertainment options that can be accessed using voice commands. By simply pressing and holding a button on your steering wheel, you can ask these systems to place a phone call, send a text message, or search for an address and provide navigation instructions. The voice recognition technology built into a smartphone allows the driver to keep their eyes on the road and mirrors to ensure he or she is safe.

CarPlay and Android Auto also help reduce distraction by making it much easier for your son or daughter to choose the music they want. They can pick a song, artist, album or even genre of music from the media stored on their smartphones. They also have access to streaming music services like Pandora, iHeartRadio, Slacker and Tidal – all by just talking to the radio in the vehicle.

Backup Camera and Parking Sensor Systems

We all know that backing into a parking spot is the ideal parking solution, since it makes pulling away much safer. Backing up can be tricky, especially when it’s hard to see objects or people behind the vehicle. An aftermarket backup camera system or parking sensor system is like having our own personal ground crew, guiding you to safety.

Parking sensor systems use an array of ultrasonic transceivers to detect objects behind your vehicle. From an abject as narrow as a signpost to a tricycle or trash can, objects of almost any size are detected very reliably. Most systems produce a warning beep when the objects are first detected at a distance of about 3–4 feet. The beeps increase in speed as you get closer and closer to the object. Finally, at about 12 inches, the beeps turn into a solid tone to let you know it’s time to stop. Parking sensor systems are also available with sensors for the front of the vehicle. These are a great option for parking in a garage or underground structure.

A backup camera system uses a compact camera to let you see an image of anything behind the vehicle. The image from the camera can be displayed on many factory-installed infotainment systems, a new rearview mirror with a built-in screen or an aftermarket multimedia receiver. The image appears automatically as soon as you put the transmission into reverse, so you don’t have to remember to press any buttons. Many video systems will support a secondary camera that faces forward on the vehicle. These second cameras are a great option for trucks, vans and SUVs whose large dimensions make them difficult to park.

Blind-spot Monitoring Systems

One of the biggest challenges for a new driver is traveling on the freeway. Keeping track of the position of cars and trucks around one’s vehicle can be very difficult. An aftermarket blind-spot monitoring system lets you know when someone is driving beside you and can dramatically reduce the chance of changing lanes when someone is in your way.

The most-popular blind-spot warning system uses a pair of radar or ultrasonic transceivers that your installer mounts behind the rear bumper cover. These units monitor the area in the lanes beside yours for the presence of other vehicles or pedestrians. When someone or something is in your blind spot, a warning light will illuminate inside the vehicle to let you know what side the obstruction is on. In most installations, the warning lights are installed at the base of the A-pillar. In some systems, an audible warning will be produced when someone is in your blind spot and you turn on the correlating turn signal.

The second option for blind-spot monitoring is a camera system. In these systems, cameras mounted underneath your rear vision mirrors display an image of the area beside your vehicle when you activate the turn signal. Just like the backup camera systems, there are many options available to display the image from the cameras.

Collision Avoidance Systems

If you are looking for the absolute state-of-the-art in protection, look into the Mobileye series of products. The Mobileye 660 uses a precisely calibrated camera to monitor the area in front of the vehicle and alert the driver when you are leaving your lane, approaching another vehicle too quickly, or at risk of colliding with a vehicle or pedestrian approaching from the side. This is the same technology that Tesla uses in its AutoPilot system.

Video Recording Systems

Another great option for a younger driver is to install a dash cam. A dash cam is a small video recording system that mounts to the windshield of the vehicle. The camera not only records everything in front of the vehicle, but most include an onboard GPS receiver and an accelerometer to store vehicle speed and driving behavior. If your son or daughter knows that you are recording everything they do, they are less likely to drive dangerously.

GPS Locating Systems

The last option to consider is a GPS locating system. These devices combine a dedicated cellular data module with a compact GPS receiver to allow you to look at the vehicle location and speed any time you want. More-advanced systems include the ability to configure over-speed warnings, aggressive driving warnings and geofencing options that will alert you if the vehicle enters or exits a preset area. Just as with the dashcams, if the driver knows you are monitoring their location and speed, their behavior will change for the better.

Protect Teenage Drivers in Your Home

While no technology can replace experience and intuition, driving assistance devices are a great way to give teenage drivers a better chance of avoiding an accident. If you are interested in any of the products mentioned in this article, visit your local specialist mobile enhancement retailer and ask about compatibility with your vehicle.
This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

7 Reasons for Hiring A Mobile Electronics Specialist to Work on Your Car

Let’s face it, not all of us are experts at everything. Maybe you’re an electrician or engineer and love to work on projects around the house. You might even be savvy when it comes to cars. You change your own oil and do your own brake jobs. Hey, if you can, why not, right? So, when do we know we need to look at hiring a mobile electronics specialist to help with a project or repair?

Cars are simple right? Switches, relays, light bulbs and wires aren’t hard to figure out, are they? If you can operate a multimeter, you can figure these things out. The problem is, most new cars don’t work that way anymore. Let’s look at how cars have changed, how audio and remote starter integration has changed and why it might be best to let a pro dive under your dash.

1. Vehicle Data Network Integration

A few decades ago, the electrical systems in our vehicles were completely analog. Devices were turned on, or off. The blower motor for the heater had four speeds. The engine had really simple temperature switches that would turn on the radiator fan. As time progressed, automakers started adding more and more features to new vehicles. Do you remember the first time you had a car with a keyless entry system? What about a car with a push-button start? These technologies were the beginning of the digital age for cars. Different modules around the vehicle talk to each other on a data network. This technology reduces the need to run as many wires through a car. Needing fewer wires saves weight and reduces cost.

In the good old days, if we wanted to see if a door was open, we’d check to see if the door pin was grounded. Now, we need to ask the computer if it’s open. We can’t simply tap into wiring for information — we need to speak the same language and we need a computer to do the talking.

Here’s a simple example that gives you a good idea of how complicated new cars are becoming. Around 2005, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep decided to remove the analog accessory wire from their radios. To turn the radio on, a message from the vehicle computer would be sent to the radio. If you wanted to change the radio, you needed to buy an interface that could intercept that signal, then produce a conventional analog accessory wire output. A radio installation in these vehicles requires a module like the PAC Audio C2R-CHYNA or the Metra CHTO-01 for a new radio to work.

Properly trained and equipped mobile electronics installation technicians have access to the training and reference material to deal with vehicles that use data networks.

2. Equipped with the Proper Tools

As a car owner, did you know that the wiring for your air bag system is, in most instances, protected with yellow wire loom under the dash and in the door sills? Probing the wrong wire within those harnesses can set off an airbag, or the entire airbag system. If you were leaning on the seat when the bag went off, you could be seriously injured.

In the old days, technicians used test lights and analog multimeters to look for the presence of signals on wires. You can easily damage a modern computer using a test light. Technicians have the right tools to gather the information they need without damaging anything in the vehicle.

3. Responsible for Damage

Let’s say you just can’t resist the urge to install a new radio in your car. You take the dash apart, remove the radio and cut off the factory radio plug. You start testing each wire in the harness for voltage and ground, then try to figure out which of the 15 or 20 wires are for speakers. If your vehicle happens to be one with a data network and you let a wire touch the battery wire, you could damage the vehicle computer. Chances are, getting the problem fixed is going to cost you at least several hundred dollars.

By hiring a professional, you are protected from unexpected costs. If they make a mistake, they’ll pay to fix it. It’s just that simple.

4. Module Programming

Most remote car starter installations require some sort of vehicle data network interface. Companies like iDatalink, Fortin and Directed offer several solutions that allow specific remote starter functions to communicate directly with the car computer. Each of these modules needs to be programmed for the year, make, model and specific trim level of vehicle. They are NOT generic.

Only authorized retailers have access to the information and programming tools required to configure these modules. Consumers simply can’t perform these tasks.

5. Manufacturer Warranties

If you read the warranty card included with products like a radio or amplifier, many manufacturers require that the device be installed by an authorized dealer in order for the warranty to be valid. Different companies have different guidelines. Installing something yourself may be covered under a 90-day warranty, but the full year is only available with proof of purchase and installation.

Some companies word their warranty statements in a way that offers an extended warranty when the product is purchased from, and installed by, an authorized retailer. With the complexity of modern devices, having a warranty is important.

6. Tricks of the Trade

In most cases, we hire professionals to perform a task because they can do it faster and better than we can. In the mobile electronics industry, technicians develop processes to save them time and make the work they do more reliable. With that said, they are also trained to maximize the performance of the equipment they are installing.

Let’s look at the installation of a set of component speakers. In most cases, the woofer will be installed in the factory door speaker location. When it comes to the tweeter, there are many options. The three most popular tweeter locations are up high in the door, the sail panel and in the A-pillar. Each offers different benefits and drawbacks in terms of performance. Experienced installers know this information and can work with you to determine which will yield results that match your goals.

7. Saving Time by Hiring A Mobile Electronics Specialist

One of the most common and logical reasons to hire a professional to perform a task is to save time. Most of us work Monday to Friday and want to relax on the weekend. Yes, there are many people who enjoy working on their vehicles in their spare time. By hiring an professional, you can drop your car off at the shop on the way to work, then come back after work and your new radio, subwoofer system or remote starter will be installed and ready to use. Hiring a professional can be a simple matter of convenience.

Visit Your Local Mobile Electronics Specialist

You’d never go to your dentist to have your eyes checked, and you wouldn’t go to the convenience store to buy a new computer. Companies exist to offer their expertise to those that require it. When it comes to upgrading the electronics and convenience systems in your car, truck or SUV – take it to an expert. You’ll save time, get the results you wanted and have someone who can provide training and ongoing support for your purchase.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

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