Idea of the Day - A new idea each day. Some Don't Suck!

Our Latest Posts About: Cars

We Need Better Pedestrian Technology

Sunday, July 16, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Pedestrians need better technology to avoid accidents at intersections.

Cars today are loaded with all sorts of technology to avoid accidents, but pedestrians technology hasn't changed in decades. Isn't it time somebody put some effort into finding new ways to cut down on the number of pedestrian accidents too?

The problem is many drivers speed up when the traffic light is about to change, often catching pedestrians by surprise, giving them no time to get out of the way. What we need is a warning system for both the driver and pedestrian, based on radar, sonar or laser sensors. When sensors detect a car zooming down the block in the direction of a pedestrian, both the pedestrian and the car should have some sort of visible and audible warning that there's a potential collis... [More]

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Ideas For Better Car Batteries

Tuesday, July 11, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Car batteries need to move into the 21st century.

We have seen major changes to just about every part of today's cars. One thing that hasn't changed, is the battery. They still have the same outdated metal terminals, and they're harder than ever to jump-start when you get stuck. Isn't it time we see some change?

It's hard enough jump starting your battery when they're jammed into hard to reach areas, but to make matters worse, they still have outdated terminals, which is nearly impossible to secure your jumper cables. If car makers are going to place the battery in a hard to reach area, they should at least give you a dedicated place somewhere else to attach your terminals.

Even if they don't do that, I'd love to see an improvement to the clamp itself. Why not create a... [More]

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Dash-Cam With a Tattle Tale Button!

Sunday, July 9, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Wouldn't it be great if you could hit a button on your dash-cam whenever you see somebody doing something unsafe?

There are a lot of unsafe drivers out there. Whenever I see somebody doing something unsafe, the first thing that comes to my mind is hoping a police officer saw it too. That's where today's idea of the day comes from.

I'd love to see a dash cam that could automatically send the last minute of footage to the police, so they'll have evidence of unsafe drivers. All you'd have to do is hit the button within a minute or so of the incident. Ideally, if the system was anonymous, everyone would be willing to use it whenever you see something wrong. Think of it as a roaming Big Brother. If enough people have this system, there would be a lot fewer people driving like... [More]

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DRIVING with Bumper Guards is STUPID!

Saturday, July 8, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

What's the deal with all those stupid Bumper Guards?

Why are so many people DRIVING with Bumper Guards?

So let me get this straight. People buy these ugly looking things to put on their bumpers so that other cars won't scratch them. Meanwhile, the bumper guards are 1000 times uglier than the scratches they were designed to prevent. Brilliant. Meanwhile, I see DRIVING with them every day throughout New York City and it makes me scratch my head and wonder how the heck they became so popular.... and WHY don't they TAKE THEM OFF them when they drive?

It reminds me of the days when people put plastic on their couches to keep them from looking dirty.

As a New Yorker, I can totally understand the concept behind the idea itself. You get back to your car and notice a brand new sc... [More]

Continue...DRIVING with Bumper Guards is STUPID!...

Big Brother... Rear Bumper Cameras

Thursday, June 29, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Rearview bumper cameras are a great idea. Here's how to make them better.

I love the rear view bumper camera on my new truck, but it's a shame it's only turned on whenever I'm backing up. This made me think about other uses for it. For example, why not use the camera to make full-time recordings of whatever's behind you... in case you need evidence after somebody hits you from behind?

This would be super easy for car makers to implement. All they need to do is keep the camera on the entire time, and continuously record whatever is behind you on an endless loop. In the event of an impact, the recordings would be frozen, so they aren't automatically erased.

Better Car USB Ports

Saturday, June 24, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Most of today's cars have USB ports. They just need better locations.

Since most of the devices people use are placed ABOVE the dashboard, why are most of the USB ports located at the bottom of the dash? That means the wires end up dangling across the dash.

What car makers need to do is add some additional ports above the dash, such as above the windshield of behind the rear view mirror.

Pondering Self-Driving Cars

Monday, June 19, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Self-Driving Cars are no longer science fiction. Here's a few things to think about.

When I first heard that Google was working on self-driving cars, I thought it was nothing more than an experiment. After all, who would trust a computer to drive them from place to place? As it turns out, they were not only serious, but just about every technology and car company is rushing to get their self-driving cars to market within the next couple of years. Clearly, Self-Driving cars are more than an experiment.

As I write this in June of 2017, every major car maker has at least SOME self-driving capabilities in their latest models. At the low end, cars today can warn you of obstacles or unsafe driving and in many cases they're programmed to automatically apply the brakes or even ta... [More]

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Can Waze CAUSE Traffic Jams?

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 10:28 PM By Joe Crescenzi

I HATE traffic reports.

To me, traffic reports are a complete waste of time. It doesn't matter whether it's on the radio, a GPS, or a mobile App like Waze. They simply don't save me any time when deciding whether to take an alternate route. If anything, they can make it worse.

I'll admit the concept is absolutely brilliant, but most of the time the information is too late to be useful and only serves to move a traffic jam from one place to another. When that happens, chances are you'll still end up in traffic, albeit in a new place.

If you came to a fork in the road where going right or left will take you the same place, in the same amount in time, but found out that there was a 30 minute traffic jam on the left side, what would you do? Assuming you were the only pers... [More]

Continue...Can Waze CAUSE Traffic Jams?...

Tire Changing 101

Friday, May 12, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why do so many people risk their lives changing tires on busy highways and bridges?

The other day I saw somebody in the middle of a bridge changing a flat tire. Can you imagine that? Right in the middle of a bridge! Why on earth would anyone do that?

As I passed the driver, dozens of questions rolled through my mind. When did he notice the flat? Didn't he notice it before getting on the bridge? Did he think something bad would happen if he waited until he reached the other side? Doesn't he realize he could get killed doing this?

Simply stated, you should never change your tire on an active roadway... Ever. The safest thing to do is to slow down, turn on your hazards and slowly drive until you reach a safe place, preferably off the highway and away from busy traffic.... [More]

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Do We Need MORE Traffic Cameras?

Friday, April 21, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

I think we need more traffic cameras, as long as they're used in strategic places.

We all hate traffic cameras... 99% of them are nothing more than traps designed to catch a driver who think's they can make it across an intersection before the yellow light turns red. Clearly their only motive is making money, but I would love to see this technology used for something far more important... catching JERKS who try to cut past traffic by driving on the shoulder.

Sitting in bumper to bumper traffic sucks... but what's even worse is watching a bunch of jerks cut through the traffic by riding in the shoulder. Not only is it frustrating watching them cut ahead of you, but knowing that when they eventually reach the front of the line, they'll only add to the delay as they merge back i... [More]

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Big Parking Spots for Trucks

Saturday, April 8, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

The most popular vehicles in the world are pickup trucks, so why are parking spaces so small?

I drive a Ford F-150 Pickup Truck. It's been the biggest selling vehicle in the world for over 40 year straight. It outsells not only every truck, but every car, SUV, or minivan, yet with all those pickups out there, why is it so hard to find a parking lot with decent sized spots?

It's hard enough for people to squeeze into those little spots with small cars, let along full-sized pickups like the F-150, so you have to wonder why they don't at least make SOME larger spots.

I realize they are simply trying to jam as many cars into the lot as possible, but for what it's worth, they're losing business because sometimes people with trucks have no choice but to leave when they can't fi... [More]

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Driving Mellow

Monday, April 3, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Before you blow your horn, have you considered the steering wheel?

I'm a mellow guy by nature, and driving is no exception, so it's always fascinated me why so many people act like crazed lunatics behind the wheel.

As a Mellow Driver, I tend to drive in the slower lanes, but I see aggressive drivers every day go nuts flashing their lights and honking their horns whenever the driver in front of them isn't going 80+ miles per hour. When you see their faces, they look like they're about to blow a gasket.

What amazes me most is that they continue to flash and honk for miles, instead of simply grabbing their own steering wheel (yes, all cars have them), and driving around the slower driver. Isn't that easier?

Better Car Blinkers

Wednesday, March 8, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Don't you hate when somebody's turn signal stays on for 20 minutes?

It drives me crazy whenever I drive behind somebody who doesn't realize they left their blinker on and it blinks for miles. It's not only annoying, but its a potential safety hazard because you can't tell if or when they may actually turn or change lanes.

The solution is for car makers to add an override that shuts the blinker off automatically if the driver doesn't make a turn after a certain distance is reached. This is exactly what motorcycle manufacturers have been doing for decades.

The Car Window Problem

Sunday, February 19, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Sometimes car makers overlook simple problems.

Don't you hate when you get into your car in the morning only to realize you left the window open the night before... and it just rained?

Most cars today will warn you if you leave the headlights on, and they'll warn you if you leave the keys in the ignition... so why on earth don't they warn you when you leave a window open?

Toll Tags and Rental Cars

Saturday, February 11, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why don't rental cars have toll tags?

One of the most frustrating things about renting a car is that you can't use a toll tag like E-ZPass to speed your way through toll booths. Why is that?

Doesn't it makes sense for car rental companies to at least give renters the option to include a toll tag in the rental car, and include the cost of each toll on the bill?

Hey Car Makers... Shut the Lights!

Tuesday, January 17, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Who's fault is it when your battery dies because you left a light on?

Most cars sound an alarm when you leave your headlights on by mistake, because it could drain your battery, but for some reason, there is no alarm when you leave an interior light on. Why is that?

This little oversight is responsible for countless dead batteries over the years, but the solution is pretty simple.

The easiest solution is to use electronic switches that automatically turn off 5 minutes after you turn them on, so they don't stay on all night. This eliminates the problem entirely because every light, including both interior and exterior lights will shut off long before draining the battery.

A second solution is to simply treat the interior lights the same as headlights, so that if you lea... [More]

Continue...Hey Car Makers... Shut the Lights!...

Dash Cams Should Be Standard

Friday, January 13, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why aren't Dash Cams a BUILT-IN option on new cars?

Just minutes after an accident takes place, the facts of the accident start changing. The driver in one car says one thing. The driver in the other car says something completely different, and passengers and witnesses all say something else.

By the next day, each of those stories change even more.

The only story that doesn't change is the one recorded on a Dash Cam. It's the only account of a traffic incident that stays exactly the same, day after day, yet in spite of the popularity of Dash Cams, there are very few drivers who have one. That's because none of the major car makers even offer one as an option. That's a shame. I think they should not only offer them as a built-in option, but they should make them stand... [More]

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Trashy Cars?

Saturday, January 7, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why don't cars have a place for you to put your trash?

If you have kids, or you do a lot of driving, chances are you accumulate a fair amount of trash each day from eating and drinking in the car. Unfortunately, most cars don't have anyplace to store your trash, so it ends up getting tossed around until you arrive at your destination.

I think cars should have optional trash containers to keep the trash from getting out of control. While you can't force your kids to use it, at least they won't give you the excuse that there wasn't anywhere to put it.

Fixed Price, Haggle Free Car Prices

Saturday, October 1, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Don't you HATE negotiating for the best possible car price?

I recently did some price shopping for a new F-150 Pickup using TrueCar, a car shopping website that shows you what typical buyers are paying for the same car and it showed me that there was a range of over $9000 in prices on some models. This means that some buyers paid over $9000 more for the exact same F-150 as other buyers who weren't aggressive negotiators.

Buying a car shouldn't be a test of your negotiating skills. The fact that one buyer can pay that much more for the same car, simply because they didn't know they could get a better deal is completely unfair.

The same is true for a lot of other products, like appliances, but it's particularly bad for car buyers because the prices are much higher and peopl... [More]

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Cruise Control That Adjusts to Speed Limit Changes

Thursday, September 22, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

We may be a few years away from self-driving cars, but here's a small step in that direction.

As a followup to an earlier post about having an App that warns you when the speed limit has changed, I think it would be great if cars using cruise control could automatically adjust to changes in the speed limit.

As I mentioned in a previous post, there are speed traps everywhere. Sometimes as you're driving along, the speed limit will suddenly change and you don't notice the signs in time to slow down, which can lead to a speeding ticket.

If the can make cars that can drive themselves, it should be pretty easy to at least make a cruise control that can automatically adjust to changes in the local speed limit.

Car Radios Should Always Start Off at Low Volume Levels

Wednesday, September 7, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Don't you hate when you get into the car and the radio blasts way too loud?

We've all done it before. You're in your car and one of your favorite songs come on, so you crank up the volume to the max. You shut off the car, close the door and head inside without realizing you forgot to lower the volume before you shut it off.

Unfortunately the penalty for forgetting to lower the volume when you shut the car takes place the next morning, when you get a sudden blast of the latest boy band song that's loud enough to wake the neighborhood. When this happens, it's hard to even imagine that you had it that loud the night before, but there's a big difference between cranking up your favorite song while driving full speed, versus listening to some lame top-40 nonsense while parked in... [More]

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Why Don't Cars Have Built-In Mobile Phone Holders?

Saturday, August 6, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

It's a pain in the neck trying to find a good place in most cars to put your mobile phone.

One of the most frustrating things about mobile phones is finding a good place to put them in your car, especially if you need to see the screen so you can use navigation software like Waze.

There are countless widgets on the market that use suction cups, springs and magnets that mount on the dashboard, windshield or your air conditioner vents, but all of them would be unnecessary if cars had some kind of mobile phone holder built-in. Not only would this be easier than some third-party contraption, but it would most likely include some kind of power connection, so you won't have to deal with wires dangling all over the place.

Why We Need Two Kinds of Car Horns

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Car horns are supposed to be for emergencies.

Car Makers Should Eliminate Cigarette Lighter Ports

Monday, July 4, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why the heck do cars still come with those bulky 12 volt cigarette lighter ports?

Car cigarette lighter ports are completely outdated, yet for some reason just about every car made today has more cigarette lighter ports than they have USB ports. In fact, many cars don't even have a single USB port, which means that car owners have to buy clumsy adapters to plug in their modern devices.

There are very few devices today that require 12 volts, especially in the front seat, but the bigger issue is still that stupid plug. It's not only big, but it frequently breaks or pops out. You would think by now that car makers would come up with a more compact plug, that isn't likely to fall out.

Eliminate Parking Bans for "Street Cleaning" Days

Monday, April 18, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Isn't it strange that some cities ban cars from parking on alternate days every week, just so they can clean the streets, yet other cities have no such rules, yet they manage to have cleaner streets?

In a city where parking is hard enough to find, is it really necessary to ban cars from parking twice a week, just so they can clean the streets? I've got news for you. Some of those cities not only manage to have clean streets, but some are actually cleaner than New York's streets.

Some of you are shaking your heads in disbelief, and asking... "How on earth can those cities possibly have clean streets when they don't force cars to scramble around and double park twice a week so that the street sweepers can clean them?"

Instead of the city sweeping the streets, the buildi

... [More]

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A Hotline For Sleepy Drivers, To Keep Them Awake

Thursday, April 7, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

One of the best ways to stay awake behind the wheel is to have somebody to talk to, which isn't easy if you're driving alone... at night.

For some people, driving at night is a real challenge because they risk falling asleep at the wheel. That's why I think it would be a great idea of there was a service people could call to help keep them awake.

Obviously, your first choice should be to call a friend or family member, but when it's late at night, that may not be a good idea, so calling a dedicated hotline would allow drivers to talk to somebody who's not only available 24/7, but allow them to call somebody who was specifically trained to keep drivers awake.

The conversation itself isn't important. Even a short call about the weather can be all it takes to stimulate the... [More]

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Headlights Should AUTOMATICALLY Turn On When Wipers Are Turned On

Tuesday, April 5, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Most states have a law that requires headlights to be turned on whenever you use your windshield wipers.

I'm not questioning the law itself. When it's raining, visibility is low, so it's critical that every car have it's headlights on. That's not the point here. What I find interesting is that most cars still don't do this automatically.

If a driver turns on his windshield wipers, but forgets to turn on his headlights, he not only risks the burden of getting a ticket, but he may cause an accident.

While there may be some cars that do this automatically, the majority of cars produced today still don't do this, and they should.

Built-In Dash Cameras as a Factory Option

Monday, January 18, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

It's time car makers finally offer dash cameras as a factory option.

It happens every day. A car travels down the road and reaches an intersection with a green light when suddenly another car crosses it's path. The result is a T-Bone collision where both cars sustain extensive and potentially life threatening injuries.

It happens in a flash and within minutes the police arrive at the scene and ask both drivers what happened. Most of the time, the officer will get two totally different stories. One driver will claim that he had the right of way, the other will claim the opposite. Unless there are impartial witnesses on the scene, the officer is forced to split the blame 50-50... unless one of them has a dash cam.

When the facts of an accident or traffic violation are in... [More]

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Alerts When You Leave Car Windows Open

Sunday, January 3, 2016 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why don't cars warn you when you leave your windows open?

It's nice to know that most cars today have an alarm warning you when you leave your headlights on by mistake. That simple little alarm has saved quite a few batteries over the years. In fact I saved my battery just the other day. I got out of the car around dusk and forgot I even turned them on in the first place. That's the reason they created the option in the first place. They didn't realize they were on.

For the same reason, car makers should do the same thing for windows. It's easy for people to forget they left one of the windows open, especially when they have 4 windows. When child sitting in the back seat opens a window, odds are the driver won't be able to see it.

To eliminate the risks of leaving

... [More]

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Speed Sensitive Texting Block (With Auto Response)

Friday, September 25, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

A split second distraction can cost you your life.

Most people know that it's unsafe to text while driving, but they don't realize it's just as unsafe to receive a text while driving as it is to send one. Regardless of how important a text may be, it's not worth risking your life for.

Resisting the urge to send text messages is pretty easy, but we don't have much choice about when a message comes in because most of the time the sender has no idea you are driving.

Although most smartphones have a Do Not Disturb option, very few people take the time to turn it on when they get in a car, especially since this would also block incoming calls. What SmartPhones need is a way to automatically block inbound texts whenever the phone is moving.

The key here is to turn off the ale... [More]

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Airport Standing Lots

Monday, September 21, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

It's not easy picking up people from the airport.

I recently picked somebody up from the airport. After checking flight information, I arrived at the airport within 10 minutes of the estimated arrival time. What I didn't expect was a 2 hour wait for him to come through customs, which meant that I had to circle the terminal over and over until he eventually made it to the pickup area.

Security at pickup areas is intense. They don't allow cars to sit there for more than a minute or two before somebody comes along and threatens you with a ticket. This means that you often don't have any choice, but to keep circling again and again.

Every day, there are hundreds of cars at any given time circling New York's JFK airport. Many drivers even resort to sitting on the shoulder o... [More]

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Bumpers With Thicker Clear Coat

Tuesday, July 28, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why don't they use thicker coatings on car bumpers?

In the old days, bumpers were made of chrome, and they had big rubber pads so scratches didn't show. Once car makers started using painted bumpers, they were mandated to have bumpers that didn't cost too much to fix for any accident under 5 miles per hour. The trouble is, they still get scratched, and for some people, that's a big deal.

I've written in the past about how much I hate seeing cars with those big rubber protectors hanging from them... to me they look worse than any scratches you would get without them. It boggles my mind that somebody would rather make their new car look like it's held together with duct tape than live with the fact that their preci... [More]

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Driving Mode Button. Block Texting With One Touch.

Friday, July 10, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

There needs to be an easy way to turn texting off with one button.

Its extremely dangerous to send text messages while driving a car. Even people who have no intention to send messages can be easily distracted if they receive a message while driving.

Countless lives have been destroyed because of texting, so there should be some method to disable texting while driving.

Most mobile devices already have a quick and easy way to enable "Airplane Mode", so device makers should add a button to disable texting too. After all, more people drive each day than fly.

It's surprising that there isn't an option to disable texting anywhere in the settings menus of any of the major smartphones on the market. This option should not be added, but it should be added someplace like... [More]

Continue...Driving Mode Button. Block Texting With One Touch....

Automatic Headlights When Wipers Are On

Sunday, June 14, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Sounds obvious, but I see people driving in the rain without their headlights on, even though they have new cars

I saw a big flashing sign on the NJ Turnpike the other day reminding them that they have a law that requires you to have your headlights on whenever your wipers are on. It makes sense. When it's raining, you have limited visibility, so turning on your headlights insures that other cars will see you.

In NJ, the law specifically states that daytime running lamps, are not enough to qualify for the headlight requirement, so you need to turn on your lights to avoid a ticket.

Here's the thing...

Even if states didn't require you to put your headlights on whenever your wipers are on, doesn't it make sense for this to be standard on all cars?

Thankfully, so... [More]

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Cars Should Have Built-In Cell Phone Holders

Sunday, May 3, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why don't cars have a place for your phone?

It took a long time for manufacturers to start making cup holders in car. Even after Drive Thru restaurants became popular in the 80s, there still weren't many cars that had cup holders. Some say the tipping point was when a woman sued McDonalds after a cup of hot coffee spilled on her lap. She didn't have a cup holder, so she just kept it where many people put their drinks back then... between her legs. What choice did she have? There wasn't anywhere else to put it.

Fast forward a few decades, and we have a similar problem. In spite of the fact that car makers have added support for connecting with phones by using Bluetooth, people still don't have a place to put the phone itself. This is a particularly difficult problem for... [More]

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Why Do Cars Still Use Cigarette Lighter Ports?

Wednesday, April 22, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Cigarette lighter ports are just plain stupid.

Isn't it strange that cars still have the same cigarette lighter ports as cars from the 50's had... even though they don't even come with actual cigarette lighters anymore?

When you think of it, do you know of anyone who actually uses their 12V cigarette lighter for anything other than plugging in a 5V USB power adapter? So, why do they still use them? After all, cigarette lighter ports are not only bulky, but they're frequently unreliable, because the plug pops out.

The original design was made specifically to accommodate the spring loaded cigarette lighter coil, and every plug that's been made since then uses some form of awkward spring loaded contraption that easily breaks or makes poor contact.

Since the only thing p

... [More]

Continue...Why Do Cars Still Use Cigarette Lighter Ports?...

All Cars Should Have Garbage Holders

Thursday, March 12, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

If so many people eat in the car, why don't you see more cars with garbage holders?

I remember back in the late 70s, you rarely saw cup holders in cars, but there were quite a few with garbage bins. We had two bins in a 1977 Cadillac, and they came in pretty handy when you had wrappers and other debris to get rid of.

As time went by, you started to see cup holders, but somehow garbage bins vanished, along with a few other handy things like window vents. I miss those too.

Once in a while you'll see a mini-van with garbage containers, but you rarely see them in cars. Anyone who's seen the mess kids make in mini-vans can understand why some mini-vans have garbage holders, but I think they're just as important in regular cars too.

When you buy something large, that comes... [More]

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Battery Terminals with Jumper Cable Connectors

Sunday, January 18, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Am I the only one that noticed that jumper cables are a pain in the neck because they don't fit the terminals?

I've got a set of the top-of-the-line Sears Jumper Cables. Yes, they were expensive, because they are the best ones they make. The cables are heavy duty gauge and extra long, and of course, they have the best clips. You know what? They still suck when it comes to getting them to clamp onto the battery terminal. What good are they if you can't make a good connection?

To me, this is one of those Emperor's New Clothing things. I bet everyone has trouble getting those suckers to clamp on the battery terminals, but nobody seems to talk about it or do something to improve it. Essentially what we need is a dedicated place on the battery to clamp the jumper cables.

T... [More]

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Interior Car Lights Should Always Use Momentary Switches (So you don't forget to turn them off)

Wednesday, January 7, 2015 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

It's bad enough that car headlights don't turn off automatically... at least you can see them when you walk away.

The fact is, kids love to play with the buttons and switches inside cars. Inevitably, they hit the interior light and nobody notices it. Actually, you eventually notice it the next morning, when the car won't start.

The strange thing is this is entirely preventable. Manufacturers should always use electronic momentary switches, that don't have an on or off position. You just push the button and it turns on, push it again and it turns off. The difference is that the circuit can't be left on. It will automatically turn off shortly after the power is turned off.

Sounds so simple. Why would anyone want an interior on/off switch that can stay on indefinitel

... [More]

Continue...Interior Car Lights Should Always Use Momentary Switches (So you don't forget to turn them off)...

Tailgater Triggered Bumper Camera

Sunday, December 28, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Bumper cameras come in handy parking cars. Why not use them for evidence if somebody hits you from behind?

Big Brother meets Big Bumper, always on the alert, just waiting for you to... Park the car? That's a lot of down time.

Instead of simply turning the bumper / license plate cameras off when you are driving, why not turn them on whenever somebody gets too close while you're driving? This creates a perfect "Black Box" to prove beyond any doubt that somebody was driving too close... for too long.

The trigger to turn on the camera could be a combination of the motion sensors and the current speed, where a safe distance increases in direct proportion with speed. The faster you go, the bigger the distance. This is based upon the two second rule, which states that a drive... [More]

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Don't Drive Around With Bumper Guards. They look Bad.

Friday, November 28, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Do you remember when people put plastic on their sofas so they would last longer? How dumb was that?

Seems like a simple idea. You put the plastic on your expensive new sofa, then you didn't have to worry about spilling anything on it. To me, it was like the Emperor's New Clothes. Nobody wanted to admit that although it protected your prized possession from stains, they looked ridiculous and were completely uncomfortable.

If you think about it. Plastic covered sofas were so ugly and uncomfortable we now look back at them and wonder why anyone would want to sacrifice beauty and comfort every single day for years, just so they could extend the life of that ugly, uncomfortable sofa for a little longer. A little longer? In other words... You're stuck with sitting on that ug... [More]

Continue...Don't Drive Around With Bumper Guards. They look Bad....

A Do Not Disturb Button on Steering Wheels. Mute Everything and Block Calls.

Saturday, November 22, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Sometimes you just plain need to concentrate on the road.

Mute buttons aren't new; a lot of cars have had them since the 90s. Before Bluetooth came along, Mute Buttons came in handy when your phone rang, so you could instantly silent the radio and answer the phone.

Now that most cars have Bluetooth, you no longer need a Mute Button, because it usually mutes the radio when a call comes in, so you can talk hands free.

I think it's time we re-think the purpose of a mute button. Instead of muting the radio so you can answer the phone, a Mute Button should allow you to BLOCK the call in the first place.

Simply stated, there are times when a phone call can be a dangerous distraction. Rather than reach for the phone and looking for the "Do Not Disturb" option, a steerin... [More]

Continue...A Do Not Disturb Button on Steering Wheels. Mute Everything and Block Calls....

A Car Periscope? Why Not?

Monday, November 10, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Sometimes when I come up with an idea, I find out somebody's thought about it before. Today, I found two. It must be a really great idea.

A lot of cars today have cameras in the back, so you can see the car behind you when you park. Every time I've used one, I have often wished I could see all around the car... 360 degrees... like a Car Periscope!

From the start, I thought about how great it would be to not only see behind me, but on the sides, and eliminate blind spots... that would also make it easier to know exactly how far I was from the CURB.

Wouldn't you know it, I do a quick search of Car Periscope Curb, and there it was... a Car Periscope on CURB Your Enthusiasm. I guess Larry David had this on his mind for long time, because he also included it in a Seinfeld e... [More]

Continue...A Car Periscope? Why Not?...

Tesla's Making Autopilot Cars in 2015. Why This is More Practical Than Google's Self Driving Cars

Friday, October 17, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Johnny Cab was Sci-Fi only a few years ago. Are we ready for the real thing?

10 years ago, DARPA created a race to build self-driving cars that could complete a race in the middle of the Mohave Desert. It didn't end well. None of the cars finished.

Each year, a new race was held and the cars could not only complete the race in the middle of nowhere, but in an urban environment (using an abandoned military base). This means the cars not only had to drive, but merge with traffic, navigate typical obstacles and obey local traffic signs.

Meanwhile, as Google was making headlines showing off prototype / concept cars that could drive themselves, Tesla Motors has been making the real thing, cars that will be shippin... [More]

Continue...Tesla's Making Autopilot Cars in 2015. Why This is More Practical Than Google's Self Driving Cars...

Blinkers Should Shut-Off Automatically If You Don't Turn!

Saturday, September 27, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Is that car in front EVER going to turn?

I know it's a cliche, but we can put a man on the Moon... but we still don't have blinkers that shut off if you don't turn? This idea is so simple, it's hard to believe car makers haven't addressed it.

Today's cars still use the same turn signal design that they did when they were first invented. Let's move the blinker into the 21st Century and create a trigger that can turn off if you don't use it for a couple of miles.

It may or may not save lives, but it will definitely be safer, and eliminate a lot of frustration.

Idea for car makers... Add USB / Power ports ABOVE the mirror too.

Sunday, September 21, 2014 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

They always say "Necessity is the mother of invention". I need this, and it bugs me that car makers don't realize how useful this would be.

A lot of us mount USB powered devices like cell phones and GPS units in our cars, but we tend to want to power them while we drive so they don't drain the battery.

This means the stupid wires hang in front of our center console.

That's not only ugly, but it's a potential hazard if somebody knocks into the wire, and yanks the cell phone or GPS from the windshield.

All it would take to avoid this is for car makers to put a couple of mini USB jacks above the mirror.

While I'm on the subject... why not standardize an OEM mounting port that securely connects to the top of the dash or the window frame? I'm tired of using t... [More]

Continue...Idea for car makers... Add USB / Power ports ABOVE the mirror too....

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* Note: The ideas on "Idea of the Day" were posted without any formal research into existing inventions.

In some cases, patents may already exist for these ideas, in other cases, there may not be any existing patents and you are free to develop and explore the viability of developing and patenting the ideas.

The authors make no claim that any of the ideas are safe, practical, or suitable for any particular purpose. You are responsible for the results of trying, developing, patenting or using any of the ideas on this site.

For some people, our ideas are just an interesting read, but our goal is to encourage you to take action. If you see an idea that you like, do something with it... Take action.

- Joe

Idea Of The Day. A new Idea Each Day. Some Don't Suck.

Our Latest Posts About: Cars

Pedestrians need better technology to avoid accidents at intersections.

Car batteries need to move into the 21st century.

Wouldn't it be great if you could hit a button on your dash-cam whenever you see somebody doing something unsafe?

What's the deal with all those stupid Bumper Guards?

Rearview bumper cameras are a great idea. Here's how to make them better.

Most of today's cars have USB ports. They just need better locations.

Self-Driving Cars are no longer science fiction. Here's a few things to think about.

I HATE traffic reports.

Why do so many people risk their lives changing tires on busy highways and bridges?

I think we need more traffic cameras, as long as they're used in strategic places.

The most popular vehicles in the world are pickup trucks, so why are parking spaces so small?

Before you blow your horn, have you considered the steering wheel?

Don't you hate when somebody's turn signal stays on for 20 minutes?

Sometimes car makers overlook simple problems.

Why don't rental cars have toll tags?

Who's fault is it when your battery dies because you left a light on?

Why aren't Dash Cams a BUILT-IN option on new cars?

Why don't cars have a place for you to put your trash?

Don't you HATE negotiating for the best possible car price?

We may be a few years away from self-driving cars, but here's a small step in that direction.

Don't you hate when you get into the car and the radio blasts way too loud?

It's a pain in the neck trying to find a good place in most cars to put your mobile phone.

Car horns are supposed to be for emergencies.

Why the heck do cars still come with those bulky 12 volt cigarette lighter ports?

Isn't it strange that some cities ban cars from parking on alternate days every week, just so they can clean the streets, yet other cities have no such rules, yet they manage to have cleaner streets?

Instead of the city sweeping the streets, the buildi

One of the best ways to stay awake behind the wheel is to have somebody to talk to, which isn't easy if you're driving alone... at night.

Most states have a law that requires headlights to be turned on whenever you use your windshield wipers.

It's time car makers finally offer dash cameras as a factory option.

Why don't cars warn you when you leave your windows open?

To eliminate the risks of leaving

A split second distraction can cost you your life.

It's not easy picking up people from the airport.

Why don't they use thicker coatings on car bumpers?

There needs to be an easy way to turn texting off with one button.

Countless lives have been destroyed because of texting, so there should be some method to disable texting while driving.

Sounds obvious, but I see people driving in the rain without their headlights on, even though they have new cars

Even if states didn't require you to put your headlights on whenever your wipers are on, doesn't it make sense for this to be standard on all cars?

Why don't cars have a place for your phone?

Cigarette lighter ports are just plain stupid.

Since the only thing p

If so many people eat in the car, why don't you see more cars with garbage holders?

Am I the only one that noticed that jumper cables are a pain in the neck because they don't fit the terminals?

It's bad enough that car headlights don't turn off automatically... at least you can see them when you walk away.

Sounds so simple. Why would anyone want an interior on/off switch that can stay on indefinitel

Bumper cameras come in handy parking cars. Why not use them for evidence if somebody hits you from behind?

Do you remember when people put plastic on their sofas so they would last longer? How dumb was that?

Sometimes you just plain need to concentrate on the road.

I think it's time we re-think the purpose of a mute button. Instead of muting the radio so you can answer the phone, a Mute Button should allow you to BLOCK the call in the first place.

Sometimes when I come up with an idea, I find out somebody's thought about it before. Today, I found two. It must be a really great idea.

Johnny Cab was Sci-Fi only a few years ago. Are we ready for the real thing?

Is that car in front EVER going to turn?

It may or may not save lives, but it will definitely be safer, and eliminate a lot of frustration.

This means the stupid wires hang in front of our center console.

All it would take to avoid this is for car makers to put a couple of mini USB jacks above the mirror.

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