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driving posts

Filed under: Internet, Web services, web 2.0

Zap-a-tag lets you publicly shame bad motorists


Just about every semi on the road has one of those "How's my driving?" badges on it. Ever wish cars were required to have them, too?

Zap-a-tag may be as close as we ever get to that reality.

It's a web site where users can submit the license plate of rude, aggressive, or just plain unskilled drivers and vent their frustrations. It's not all negativity, though. You'll also find users posting helpful tips like "Don't forget, your tags expire next month," and the odd compliment about a snazzy paint job or clever vanity plates.

Tags are (obviously) cataloged by state, and they're also pinned to a Google map for visual browsing. A search box is available in case you feel like checking whether or not someone else has already complained about a particular vehicle (or your own, perhaps?). There is, of course, a "report abuse" option which gives you recourse in the event that some hooligan is wrongfully slandering your driving.

And yes, the site offers Twitter integration so you can quickly zap-a-tag with a simple update.

Posting on Zap-a-tag won't result in a traffic citation or a reprimand from higher-ups, but it's a harmless way for you to get roadway aggravations off your chest.

Filed under: Internet, Web services, web 2.0

Figure out how much gas money you need with Cost To Drive

Cost To Drive
Planning a road trip in the near future? Cost To Drive is a web application that can help you figure out how much cash to take out of the ATM before you hit the road. Sure, you could certainly get a rough estimate by dividing the number of miles you have to drive by your car's average mileage and then multiplying that figure by the average price of gas. But where's the fun in that?

Cost To Drive lets you select from a long list of automobile makes and models dating back to 1999. Just select your car from the list, plug in the locations for the start and end of your trip, and the web site will spit out an estimate of how much gas money you'll burn through. The figure is obtained by looking at the mpg for your car and the average price of gas in various spots along your route.

[via TechnoSpot]

Filed under: Utilities, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry

Trapster: mobile utility locates speed traps


If you've ever been caught in a speed trap and thought, "I wish someone had warned me!" then we have just the service for you. Trapster lets users report speed traps as they find them, using their mobile devices. There's even support for Jott, a voice-to-text service, so that you can make a report and still keep your hands on the wheel. The coolest part, though, is that Trapster will warn you through your mobile phone if you're approaching any of the speed traps it knows about.

The front page of the site features an informative Google Map, visualizing Trapster's whole database. This is cool, but it doesn't do a whole lot of good while you're actually on the road. That's why there's a Trapster app for Nokia Smartphones, BlackBerries, and phones with Windows Mobile 5 or 6. If you don't want to keep Trapster running all the time, you can just turn on SMS alerts to be informed when a new trap is reported in your area.

The Trapster team has taken into account that people might feel uncomfortable attaching a name to the info they send in, so anonymous reporting via email is also an option. Don't be too worried about Trapster getting shut down by the cops anyway. What's the harm in encouraging people to slow down?

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