Easing Dad's Commute This Father's Day

If Dad has to drive to work, he's probably miserable for an hour a day or more, depending on how far away the office is. This Father's Day, why not consider some gifts to make Dad's commute more bearable?

If the morning zoo isn't cutting it, a satellite radio receiver can give him uninterrupted music and dozens of stations to choose from. I checked out the Pioneer Inno XM2go last year and found it a quite capable little radio, perfect for on-the-go listening and with an available car kit.

Dad more of an MP3 fan? Get him a real iPod connection to his car stereo: Those cassette tape adapters and FM transmitter systems are clunky and just don't do the job. A wired iPod connector (aka an auxiliary input) is part of many in-dash car stereos now, and most are very inexpensive: The Alpine CDE-9870, for example, costs just over $100. Many recent-model car stereos can be upgraded with a simple, $20 to $50 gadget and cable to add the connector (plus installation).

Naturally, GPS is essential for any road warrior. Check out a TomTom or a Garmin rig.

If you're feeling sentimental over dad's safety, how about putting together an emergency kit for his trunk? It's cheap, easy, and the personal effort expended will really speak volumes about how much you care.

Then again, the best tech gift you get dad may be some simple advice: to avoid using his cell phone while on the road. The latest studies show exactly how dangerous driving-and-dialing is. In July 2008, hand-held phones will become illegal to use on the road in the state of California, the fourth state to ban them.