When preparing to enjoy a holiday by car, it is vital to ensure that you have the right gadgets to ensure a comfortable and safe trip, especially if you are traveling with children. Elements such as sun visors to protect the vehicle from the sun, side blinds to reduce the impact of the sun’s rays or a portable fridge to keep drinks cold are some of the objects that should not be missing on our summer trips, especially when the chosen dates coincide with a heat wave.
This accessory, generally made of reflective materials, such as aluminum sheets or special fabrics, is placed on the windshield to protect the passenger compartment from direct sunlight. It also protects seats and dashboard from damage from prolonged exposure to the sun. A RACC study demonstrates the effectiveness of using a sunshade in a vehicle parked in the sun for one hour. You can see the results of the report by clicking on this link.
At certain times of the day, when the sun is very low on the horizon, the standard visors that cars equip are insufficient to protect us from the reflections of the sun’s rays. If the sunglasses do not allow us to solve this problem, we can resort to the extensible visors that are offered in the market to gain a few centimeters from the original parasol. In this way, the experience of driving first thing in the morning or at sunset becomes more comfortable and safer.
The blinds that are attached to the side windows with suction cups allow us to reduce the impact of the sun’s rays on the passenger compartment. This is an aspect that we must take into account when driving in the central hours of the day, especially if we travel with children. In addition to providing shade and comfort by creating a barrier between the sun and the car’s passenger compartment, sun blinds also protect the skin from harmful radiation.
A small refrigerator is an essential element for summer trips by car as it allows us to keep food and drinks cool during trips. The portable fridge is perfect for carrying snacks, fruits, drinks and even medicines that require refrigeration. The DGT recommends making a stop every two hours to rest, stretch your legs and hydrate.
A goggle-shaped gadget is on the market that is designed to help prevent and alleviate the symptoms of dizziness that some people may experience while traveling by car. Children, in particular, are often more prone to travel sickness, so wearing anti-sickness goggles in the car can make them more comfortable. In this article we explain how this gadget works, which was initially marketed by Citroën under the suggestive name of Seetroën.
The car seat cover is especially recommended when traveling with children. This accessory is designed to protect seats from wear, spills and stains that can arise when traveling with the little ones. The covers that are attached to the car seats are easy to put on and take off and do not require special care for cleaning.
We should never replace a cover specially made for this purpose with a towel or other item of clothing, since in the event of an accident it can favor the dreaded underwater effect, that is, we end up slipping under the lap belt of the seat belt.
The organizer is a practical accessory that helps to maintain order and functionality inside the vehicle. It is placed on the back of the front seats and is designed in such a way that it offers multiple compartments and pockets to store various objects and travel items. When traveling with children we can deposit essential elements such as water bottles, toys, books and other entertainment items in the organizer.
A small key ring-shaped device marketed under the name Resqme has become one of the hot gadgets to carry in the car this summer. Beyond its condition as a key ring, in principle it does not offer any other function that is especially useful for our day to day. However, this gadget is specially designed to be used in an emergency situation.
Inside the key ring is a piece of plastic topped by a steel tip that is effective for breaking glass. In addition, it has a blade in the central part specially designed to cut the seat belt in emergency situations, such as in an accident, when it is not possible to unfasten it.
The V-16 beacon light, also known as an emergency light, emits a distinctive visual signal in the form of flashes that alerts other drivers to the presence of a stopped or emergency vehicle. This device currently coexists with the warning triangles and will become mandatory from January 2026 when it is the only authorized emergency signal.
However, since the use of triangles on highways and dual carriageways is no longer mandatory since July 1, it is advisable to have the V-16 signal to signal a road accident and be more visible to other users.
Having a first-aid kit on hand makes it possible to provide immediate and basic care in the event of sudden illness or injury. During the trips, children are exposed to various situations that can trigger minor injuries, sunburns, insect bites or other discomforts. A well-stocked first-aid kit may contain bandages, sterile gauze pads, tape, disinfectant, pain relievers, sunburn creams, and antihistamines.