Testing Taxi Gadgets - Do These Actually Work?

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Get 45% OFF your at-home Testosterone Replacement Treatment kit (TRT) here www.manual.co/testosterone-replacement-therapy/initial-testosterone-blood-test?coupon=TOMH45&TomHutley Use code: TOMH45

[@Steve-s4b]

The bead mat keeps your back slightly elevated off of the seat, which does help with sweat a bit when it's hotter. If it's nice out or your AC is on, it's kind of moot. The "head rests" in vehicles aren't actually rests, they're safety devices to keep you from snapping your neck or breaking the back of your skull open in the event of a crash, they're not there for comfort at all.

[@tianamarie989]

I hate them. I wish they'd stop making them push forward. Hits my pony tail all the damn time.

[@nhaaaPl]

The beads never made sense to me until I had to do a lot of driving on very hot days without any AC. I imagine it was very useful for cab drivers before most cars had good AC.

[@ebiooo]

Plus it'd be more delightful if the beads are made out of those very fragrant woods

[@drummerboy1390]

As an Edinburgh cab driver of thirty years, I’ve tried every gadget under the sun and they all have one thing in common. They end up chucked in a cupboard after a week.

[@NonsensicalSpudz]

yeah its always the case you end up removing the gadget and never put it back and forget about it forever. or it just breaks and you're just like ehh

[@RishyRoller]

The cut out at the back of the memory foam cushion is designed so that you’re not sitting on your coccyx so relieving pressure rather than being a cut out for a computer chair 😂

[@oz_jones]

Por que no los dos?

[@idontusetwitter]

Steering wheel knob wants to be somewhere between 4-5 o'clock on the wheel. Tractors and things have them there as standard.

[@lordexcellent5610]

The beads are actually quite nice, I bought them out of desperation this summer because my aircon broke and they really help with the heat. You don’t sweat as much or get stuck to the seat which I’ve always found gross and annoying. When it comes to comfort, there is no massage quality to them let’s get that out of the way but they are not uncomfortable either (I have actually felt more discomfort after a long drive in a new luxury car with shitty seats than after even longer drive in my old daily driver with this wooden monstrosity). It’s definitely one of the things I wanted to throw out as soon as possible but it has kinda grown on me.

[@markvale83]

Tip for you DJI mic. Put it under your T shirt just under your collarbone and use the mag clip to hold it. Your voice travels down your chest so you'll get clear audio without having to use the wind muff and having your mic flap about as your jacket moves

[@zefriend3]

They used to say steering knobs are illegal as it's a massive safety issue in a crash. I think it no longer applies with airbags in the wheel. Just make sure the unit isn't installed under the hinge of the airbag cover if it has one.

[@NonsensicalSpudz]

or you're get a knob forced in your face

[@A.Servidor]

Good shout, thanks

[@t.o.c_media]

I was just going to say that

[@wahidpawana424]

They were banned in most countries because most of them have terrible QC and breaks easily and may cause accidents.

[@SirZechs77]

Not sure about the UK but where I live the use of a steering knob is strictly forbidden, unless the person requesting the use of one has a specific disability. The reasoning behind it is that apparently those knobs can get easily embedded in your chest or skull during a serious crash.

[@hughraynor8670]

Regarding the uncomfortable headrest, that's because 'rest' is short for restraint, not rest as in relax. Your head isn't supposed to be touching the headrest during driving, you should be hovering just in front. The purpose of the head restraint is to stop your head and neck quickly flexing backwards in a rear collision, preventing whiplash.

[@sumofty]

They do help in an accident but it for sure does not stand for restraint. It's a head rest

[@GingerKiwiDev]

Wheelchair user here. The cut out on the cushion is for your tailbone (coccyx). Custom wheelchairs like mine have proper cushions ($500+) with a softer density foam (and/or gel and/or air chamber) in the tailbone area to take pressure off of it. For lower priced cushions like car and office seat cushions the designers just completely cut out that area. You might want to move the cushion more forward so the cut out is under your tailbone. Your thighs take some of the pressure distribution to take the load off of your tailbone and sit bones. Note: the $500+ is just for my seat cushion (It's 3 densities of foam plus adjustable air with a valve and air breathable mesh cover). My wheelchair is around $6,000 CAD. When I'm in a cab, or sitting in a chair for an event I always sit on my wheelchair cushion. It's WAY more comfortable than car seats!

[@Mimimo02]

So for the steeing wheel knob As someone who somewhat regularly uses a tractor with one You get almost no torque out of that knob, which, especially during parking and low speeds, is a disadvantage And during high speeds you should grip the wheel properly

[@PigeonSwag]

what do you mean by no torque? like when the grounds rough? the one on the tractor that i use works fantastically, i love it for manoeuvring in tight spaces, especially because of the super high ratio on the steering rack that tractor has

[@Mimimo02]

Maybe it's because it's like a 50s tractor or something But when I'm using the knob to steer, I can barely get around corners. Sometimes I use it to keep straight, but that's basically it

[@skipsadventures]

Great informative video. As I drive for a living I'm intrigue by the seat cover but the steering knob isn't a good idea. You'll have problem at MOT time and in case of an accident it'll be tough to prove you were in complete control of the vehicle. 15:45 is your best position to hold the steering wheel, hence why your steering wheel spokes are where they are. It;s the most comfortable position too and with the introduction of air bags the safest. If you're at 14:50 you're more likely to sustain injury through the air bag deploying into your arms and thus thrusting them into your chest. At 15:45 you're likely to have your arms pushed to the sides.

[@BritishAdam]

The steering wheel knobs are quite good as an adaptation for the less able on Motability cars too!

[@tutacat]

4:05 That is a head restraint, not a headrest. It is designed to prevent whiplash, though in most cars they are slightly more comfortable.

[@n17hero]

Feels like that seat gap filler could pay for itself in no time. Simple design that would save so much grief.

[@GeorgeVCohea-dw7ou]

Over a century of automotive engineering, and those lot have still not figured out how to fix an obvious problem,...why is that still acceptable in this twenty-first century‽

[@rn5666]

“I might have to keep that one you know” Next frame it’s been taken off 🤣

[@awineandfoodnerd]

Great video today, Tom. Especially when you were trying out the steering wheel attachment. Have a great weekend!

[@BerenES]

So when Tom used to say that he sits at home on Amazon buying stuff he doesn’t need, this is what he was talking about!

[@CristianoUK]

6:49 I can't be the only one who thought that the logo takes up a different shape when you spin it 😂

[@konstantinos6192]

As a taxi driver in Greece, I can not imagine working without beads during the hot months. However in winter, I remove them. I am addicted to my heated seats.

[@DonlishkoHellfire]

As a Taxi driver myself im tempted to try the steering wheel knob! P.S I was loughing out loud at the sun visor and the concept of customers seeing it!! HAHAHA

[@jonathanirons231]

Love the way you go full London at 19:59 laughing at those visors ;-)

[@RoyalFlushFan]

Not every relationship will be a healthy one. But I can surely recognise love at first sight. Like Tom and his spinner knob.

[@deedee-tc4fh]

I have one of the visors and have it clipped on near the windscreen and don't use the visor. It was a typical Winter Sunny day last week and it did the business without losing any of the screen. The downside was the hinge where the lens are clipped on came off but clips back on easily for the time being... If you wait for the good weather, all these gadgets will be at a car boot sale for 10p

[@wolazant]

Hi Tom, natural sheepskin instead of beaded seat cove will change your life :). It's not hot in summer and not cold in winter with it.

[@TooBarFoo]

I use the steering wheel knob along with hand controls for braking and acceleration, Only really use it for slow speed stuff like parking or tight turns in town but once you get use it you wonder how you lived without one.

[@benwilson9150]

The steering knob, you might want to check you don’t need to have a medical exemption to have one fitted, here in Australia you need to have and carry an exemption letter from your doctor to have one fitted in the first instance.

[@BoBandits]

Similar laws here I understand 🇨🇦

[@ciduk]

Not legal in the UK i believe

[@richardrichardw9520]

They are legal in uk

[@richardrichardw9520]

Check out uk truck drivers

[@martinausterfield8597]

@@richardrichardw9520never seen one that wasn’t fitted to a show truck.

[@dorsettyke]

I've got a steering wheel knob as I lost use in my left hand 8 years ago. I feel I'm a better, safer driver now! 🙂👍

[@desmond223]

just fyi...epitome - pronounced uh-pit-uh-mee Sorry for the vocab lesson. love your vids Tom!

[@mlee6050]

Thanks, I never understood the beaded seat cover until now

[@kualajdm]

0:16 "Eppytome" 😂

[@Eldriitch]

The kind of mistake that proves someone reads a lot lol -- saying the word as you'd guess it would be pronounced.

[@gailforce]

Eh-pit-oh-may is maybe how he could read it

[@kualajdm]

@@Eldriitch I refuse to believe that man has gone so far in life and never heard epitome spoken aloud.

[@kualajdm]

@@gailforce kinda, 'eh-pi-to-mi'.

[@gailforce]

@kualajdm when I was growing up I'd here it once a week. Maybe not so much any more. It's the epitome of memes.

[@GhostFlashDrew]

8:12 - PCO driver of a 2 XL cars & cant stress how amazing steering nobs are. DVLA dont like it because if the airbag goes off it has a higher chance that it could cause a injured if we end up in a accident.

[@NGHVEVO]

Aaah the good ol' spinner knob. Or as we call it, "the suicide grip". Be careful with that one 😵

[@H_G2013]

Why is it called that

[@powershin12]

I think sunvisor is more towards Asian market. Because here in Japan, wearing sunglasses are more related towards....Yakuza than normal stuff.

[@tutacat]

3:20 that non-slip plastic surface would need cleaning to remove lint and dust, to keep the grip the same. Maybe attach an elbow pad to the sleeve?

[@CarlMarx]

Yellow tint glasses are a must when driving in the spring in northern Norway. everything is still covered in snow and the sun is super low on the horizon blinding out with glare and reflection or below giving really flat lighting making depth and contrast of the white on white nearly impossible to see.

[@footymadjen]

I use a steering ball due to being disabled, I would not be without it. I also have a memory foam cushion on my seat due to being under 5 feet lol.

[@mtty1988]

Questions 1why are the gaps so easy to lose things 2 the next cab should have no mirrors and cameras then they can have rear reverse wing and blind sport. Also usb outlets in the car rather than cig light have an additional one in the passenger side. 3 can you change your gear rest

[@jaserobert2758]

The car seat cushion is great. Anyone who sits in their job for prolonged periods should use one. The sun visor works well but the plastic clip doesn't last.

[@georgelloydgonzalez]

19:15 Never forget this epic moment, the pinnacle of incidental comedy

[@makeupyourmindinator]

The cutout in the seat cushion is to keep pressure of the coccyx.

[@DavidCunnington-j8u]

Love it, need to try some of those… the mirror esp. I’ve got a long slim arm rest on the door and glued it on permanently. Its great on a long drive. Eg Disney!

[@ottarkraemer9001]

I would SO keep the steering wheel knob!! Also in my old car I had one of them beaded seats but in the end I chucked it when it got old and the wires started breaking.

[@darbo1701]

8:04 If something brings you this much joy, it's worth keeping!

[@alisonb4898]

The steering knob might work on cars with lane follow assist built in, it will detect it as you holding the steering wheel so it won’t turn it off if you’re not hold the wheel ( which legally I have to say is very dangerous and not to be done)

[@lin90210]

When I travelled in Hong Kong all the taxi drivers had the beaded seat cover

[@nearestyoutube]

And they use another gadget. The mobile phone holder... 12 of them on the dashboard in fact

[@jackcameback]

This was very very entertaining!!!! Thank you

[@SimonPain]

The knob would probably be good for your next F1 racing day with lots of manoeuvring.

[@Uncleharkinian]

steering wheel knobs are illegal in some places, so folks always check local laws lol!

[@kita5886]

The best advice is to exercise. The long hours can be horrendous on your health.

[@davetreadwell]

4:10 They're not really for resting against - they protect your neck if you're in an RTC and prevents it from breaking...

[@user-oz3ki6qi3m]

Tom you look like you have crashed through a Halfords window 😊 . Great video

[@daniturn]

I use the first one the cushion but I use it when driving a bus and I have to say it saves the hips as bus seats are compressed sometimes you may aswel be sat on the frame it be the same just covered in a thin layer of fabric

[@wyt.e]

6:50 the spinning S on the knob looks like a german symbol from 1940

[@arj51510]

IT WASNT JUST ME WHO SAW IR

[@oumpstar]

No it doesn't

[@gudnisnaer8171]

I would stay away from a spinner knob if its not built into the wheel

[@snortymcsnortface]

having super soft seating for long periods of time can be damaging, since it cuts of bloodflow, wich i think is the idea with the wood bead thing, but i'm not sure if that's enough either.

[@TheJttv]

I use seat gap fillers in my car. I have dropped my phone down that slot one too many times while sitting around eating lunch.

[@London-Lad]

That laptop tray looks like a Wisley dogging laptop w*nking station 😂😂😂😂 I love you so much Tom, you're a laugh.

[@petertwinn786]

It’s not a head rest, it’s a head restraint that is meant to save your neck in a collision.

[@lmaoroflcopter]

Think the knob is great, but I'd be concerned for a smash and taking my eye/face out on it given it could affect airbag deployment.

[@edwardgarnish238]

The steering wheel knob is all well and good until you go into the back of someone and it impales itself into your chest or forehead 😂😅

[@skillage90]

Thebeaded seat cover. It was popular in India and used by many taxi drivers.

[@BigBoiiLeem]

Spinner knobs should not be used without proper training. It is very easy to oversteer with them, and they should only be used when needed (i.e., for disabled drivers).

[@armandobond7736]

🤓

[@BigBoiiLeem]

@armandobond7736 have fun running into a light pole, d*ckhead 🖕

[@tommos16]

Laughed big time at them Beads man hahaha

[@smgreenartsprivate]

What about something to keep drinks hot or one of those neck things to keep you cool when customers don't want AC on? or a panic button for emergencies.

[@epmorris]

Yeah using that stove could be a bit risky to be honest. The power rating on the stove will be the actual power it's using, but you're in that area where it's just a bit higher than the car's rating so fuses are unlikely to blow. The risk is that more current is drawn than the car's wiring is rated for. It might be fine (due to tolerances etc), but there is a risk the wiring could be degraded over time, creating a fire risk.

[@josephputinch3090]

Seeing the interior reminds me of something I usually watch, false taxi

[@DavidCunnington-j8u]

The cable adaptor I find good and just put up with lid not fully shutting

[@jaserobert2758]

Tom the Taxi Driver channeling Freakin Reviews from the States.

[@beanoyip06]

A taxi with seat massager will be a life saver. Retro fit one?

[@sushi777300]

The knob seems to be a really good gadget

[@DoubleD20s]

When you were talking about the head cushion, I suddenly remembered my driving instructor sternly saying, 'It's a head restraint, not a head rest.' I've found it's true, as I can't remember the last time I used it for my head. That said, I can tell you how often I've sat in the back of people's cars where they're so low that they dig in between your shoulders.

[@DanielLopez-up6os]

The Shade things from the sun visor make some sort of sense in an electric car, cause polarized sunglasses might make you not be able to see the Dash/Speedometers screens etc.

[@atisozols5799]

I can't wear sunglasses while driving because of my regular glasses

[@mattymerr701]

Nah, electronic screens are either diagonally or horizontally polarised so you only have an issue if you tilt your head. It's an especially poorly designed car if they didn't take polarisation into account.

[@Lifeofalondoncabbie]

Brilliant video Tom

[@liammurray9274]

euh-pit-oh-mee... Epi-toem lmao

[@matthewb604]

With the cigarette lighter usb adapter, could it be combined with a right angled USB to USB connector?

[@TigerAceSullivan]

7:35 !!!!!! im a palmer too and my wrist has issues so tyhis would be perfect...

[@mrlittlegenius1]

Great video. And hilarious, too.

[@London-Lad]

The beads! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@KnugenMooMoo]

The laptop one with the small chair and back door open yeahhhhh but what if it starts raining ?

[@darrenblois8495]

Car companies spend millions on R&D to design their cars optimally, and we think a 20 quid gadget we saw on Amazon is going to make all the difference.

[@kobirelf97]

Every person has their own preference when it comes to driving can't companies can't predictable everyone wants

[@Alex-ul5bp]

You can wash the sticky pads iff the. Air drynand they will be sticky again

[@GR1FF3RK]

don't like blind spot mirrors because if you set your mirrors right you'll never need them

[@THE.RED.BEA3T]

Nice A168 i see there 👀👌

[@Foodie_77823]

Thanks for sharing 🎉🎉🎉

[@matthiasjagdm3949]

7:59 When i saw my cab driver had one of these knobs on his steering wheel, i knew he knew what he was doing and it would be a lovely trip and i was right edit: right instead of write

[@hulme187]

You have probably mentioned. What camera is that on the dash?

[@alt8620]

you cna do the palm method with a knob too

[@TYPICALTRYHARD_]

Why does the taxi have so many volvo parts

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Well spotted. LEVC is owned by Geely, the parent company of Volvo 🙌🏻

[@PaladinKonrad]

I hate those beaded seat covers. They're always pulling out hairs.

[@AlonsoRules]

They all seem like a waste of money except the mirrors and visor

[@redjacc7581]

Nice one Tom.

[@ddoublejentertainment6415]

2:39 why does this angle look familiar 🤔 😳 🤫😏

[@Ozzy631]

Fake taxi ahhh reference

[@alaminrahman5017]

Hey Tom I like to do London taxi do you think I can make it? I’m not that good at remembering things specially road names but I’m good at map.. and I am hard work

[@the_jon_with_no_h]

I've seen Ubers with knobs at the wheel.

[@DancingSpacePotato]

Lost me at epi-tome, but I’ll let it play

[@paullees7111]

I thought you were supposed to sit on the beaded cover?

[@Tdr-jv2nc]

What watch do you wear? It looks cool just interested