SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger is a Cool Bit of Safety Gear
Years ago, I read a motorcycle wreck story which has stuck with me. The specifics are foggy–I couldn’t find the original article–but I remember the important parts.
Basically a rider was out in the middle of Montana, and he was charged by a bull that had gotten loose from a local ranch. In trying to avoid hitting the animal, he wound up dumping the bike and getting knocked out. When he came to, it was dark, he couldn’t walk, and all he could do was hope someone found him. By the time someone did, his fingers were frostbitten beyond repair, which ended his career as a mechanic. What a nightmare.
Like I said, it’s been years–maybe as many as ten?–since I read about that accident, but it was the first thing I thought of when I saw the SPOT Satelittle GPS Messenger. The press release actually came in via our sister site ATV Connection, because it’s marketed toward hunters, fishermen and other people who find themselves out in the sticks, but I thought it make for some peace of mind on a long road trip. In the event of a life threatening accident, the GPS Messenger can be used to send an SOS to emergency services, or it can also be used to check in with loved ones, call for roadside assistance or map progress.