If You’re Going by Car, These Will Help

Road trips can be safer and more comfortable with these new products. Items may be available in area stores. Price does not include shipping.

Drink and tell: How do you know if you’ve had too many drinks to drive safely? This battery-operated digital breathalyzer can tell you. Turn it on, wait for the beep and blow into the mouth vent. The detector beeps in a few seconds when a breath sample has registered; it displays your blood alcohol level in .01 increments, from .00 to .19. (A blood alcohol content of 0.08 is considered legally drunk in California.) An alert warns if a complete sample wasn’t measured, and there is a low-battery warning. The unit runs on two AA batteries, measures 3 1/2 by 1 1/4 inches and weighs less than 2 ounces.

AlcAlert Digital Alcohol Detector (BT5500) is $49.95 from PNI Corp.; (888) 422-6672, www.pnicorp.com.

Bedding down: When the gang’s all there, sometimes there aren’t enough beds to go around. But the problem is solved with this comfortable queen-size, self-inflating mattress--worth keeping in the trunk just in case. The electric-powered integrated pump inflates the mattress in less than a minute, and a release valve deflates it even more quickly. The cotton-surface mattress provides as much support as a quality bed; a control button allows you to fine-tune the firmness. The bed rolls for storage in its own duffel. It weighs 14 pounds, so you won’t want to take this backpacking, but it’s great for a car trip.

Ultimate Support Self-Inflating Mattress (73899) is $179.95 for queen (also available in twin and full sizes) from Hammacher Schlemmer; (800) 321-1484, www.hammacher.com.

Parking spotter: Finally, a solution to the exasperating question, Where did I park? With Brook- stone’s battery-operated Park Smart key chain, users can enter the level, section and space where the car is parked with push-button controls, and then lock in the location. The featherweight unit measures 3 inches by 1 1/2 inches and operates on a button cell battery. It comes with five key rings that attach to the clip.

Park Smart Key Chain (C293399) is $20 from Brookstone; (800) 351-7222, www.brookstone.com.

‘Slaw and order: Back-seat organizers that dangle behind the front-seat headrest are nothing new, but Lewis N. Clark’s latest model includes a cooler. The Insulated Back-Seat Organizer has four mesh pockets at the top for stashing a flashlight, tissues, maps or other items; elastic straps in the middle for holding a thermos; and, at the bottom, a spacious zippered insulated compartment for keeping food hot or cold. The adjustable strap can be used for hanging in the car or as a back strap. The organizer folds flat and fastens with Velcro for storage.

Lewis N. Clark Insulated Back-Seat Organizer (8842) is $30 in stores. For information, contact L.C. Industries; (800) 575-6611, www.lewisnclark.com.

Back beauty: Long an innovator in neck rests, Bucky Products has introduced a backrest for the car. The 7-inch-square faux-suede cushion, dubbed Otto, hangs from the headrest by a shoestring cord that can be adjusted to hit the right spot. If the pillow feels too full, unzip the back and pour out some of the millet hull filling. The cushion is machine washable (with the inner millet-filled sack removed).

Otto Auto Backrest (T910) is $24.95. For information, contact Bucky Products; (800) 692-8259, www.bucky.com.

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