With the endless supply of apps available for the Android market, it should come as no surprise that there are many aspects of your life that your smartphone can assist you with. If you’re just starting to get your digital wings regarding gadget use, you may not be aware of the handy apps that can make you a safer, more reactive driver, but this category is quickly gaining in popularity, and offers a plethora of free and inexpensive tools at your disposal. So the next time you’re looking to gain a new appreciation for what your smartphone can do, here are 4 Android apps that will be highly useful as you head down the road:

iOnRoad

Along with a windshield-mounted bracket for your smartphone, this app can be used to inform you about a variety of unsafe conditions while driving, such as potential collisions, lane departure warnings, and more. It works by utilizing your phone’s camera, native GPS, and a host of other sensors to provide a set of safety-conscious eyes to watch the road with you. It can also be used as an invaluable parking locator, by automatically taking a snapshot of your surrounding area and marking the spot on your GPS.

Car Dashboard

If you’re looking for a general purpose diagnostic provider, this app sports a smooth, futuristic-looking interface that provides valuable information while you’re behind the wheel. Speed (including speeding warnings), temperature, elevation, compass directions, current location via GPS, and much more are available to you at any moment.

AutoBoy BlackBox

Another app category that’s rapidly growing in popularity is the “black box” of driving apps: programs that provide a video recording of your driving day, useful if you have an accident, are stopped by the authorities, need to carefully document your mileage and whereabouts for tax purposes, and more. AutoBoy’s BlackBox is particularly effective, and with a very ample free version, you definitely won’t find a better app to see if this kind of thing appeals to you.

aCar

For the drivers who promise to take better care of their rides, aCar is a great organizational app that helps you track your vehicle’s maintenance, oil changes, fill ups, mileage, receipts, and various other expenses that will help you monitor the overall health of your car, as well as provide convenient documentation for possible tax write-offs.

These are just 4 of the ever increasing amount of driving apps that are available for Android users. If you try a few of these out and find yourself enjoying the benefits of a safer and more informative driving experience, you can dive headfirst into the market and discover some truly revolutionary apps that will make you wonder how you ever put your keys in the ignition without them.

Author bio:

John is a blogger who is still thrilled by his dashboard-mounted GPS. He writes for protectyourbubble.com, an Internet insurer that can provide you excellent damage coverage for your next rental car, even while you use your new smartphone apps to drive more effectively.