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Last month saw many South Africans enjoying some much needed rest and relaxation over the festive public holidays. And now that it’s over it’s back to work with refreshed minds and good memories. But, after all the road trips, day trips, lazy Autumn drives and quick pop-ins at friends and family, the question is – what would have made your holiday even better?

When was the last time you used an app on your phone? A few minutes ago? A second or two? If you take a moment to think about it, apps have become an integral part of our daily lives. There’s an app for almost everything, from self-destructing messages, lightsaber mimickers and talking cats, to GPSs, trip advisors and even matchmakers.

For Matrix, technology plays a huge role in making the Matrix service offering as easy and powerful as it is. And with every passing year technology becomes more and more a part of our daily lives. 2015 is going to be an exciting year as we see some interesting innovations in the tech world that will help make driving an even safer, more efficient, and entertaining experience.

Take a moment to think about your first great road trip or, if you’ve never had the chance, picture freedom on the open road. That done, it’s safe to say that road trips mean great memories. There is something romantic and inspiring about the idea of getting into your car and driving toward the horizon. And, as South Africans, we are privileged to host a range of breath-taking destinations, with beautiful scenery all along the way. The question is, what’s the difference between a long drive and a road trip, and what is it that really makes road tripping so great?

The start of a new year is always a wonderful thing; everything feels fresh and new, and for many people, it’s a chance to jot down a few resolutions and changes for the coming months. But for most, car-related resolutions probably aren’t too high on the list. That’s why, in the spirit of New Year - and because we spend so much time in our cars – we thought we’d drum up a list of resolutions for you and your life on the road.

So here we are, in the 12th and last month of the year. Finally! But with so much on your plate over the past year, we know that some of you may have left planning your December to the last minute. To help you out, we’ve come up with a lovely little list of places you (and your vehicle) can fall in love with this summer.

We can all agree that South Africa is a wonderful place but driving our roads can, at times, be an unpleasant experience. We have some of the world’s most amazing destinations and, with naturally beautiful scenery along the way, getting there should be a pleasure. However, sometimes we have to deal with unavoidable rush hours, ever-increasing potholes, traffic-light malfunctions, road closures and now, load shedding that periodically puts us square in the dark. These factors can lead to frustration and anger in an instant, but what if we tried a more positive approach to traffic?

It is a simple truth that every great journey begins with at least some form of preparation. As this year starts to come to its joyous finale and we all look forward to a much needed break, so too begins the time to focus on the plans that will help make the journey more enjoyable and a little less stressful.

Built in to general make-up as homo sapiens is a little itch, not caused by mosquito's or winter dryness but that feeling of needing to do more. Everyone experiences this longing, the pit in your stomach and the feeling of incomplete efforts - this is what drives innovation and great technological breakthroughs. Every day we wake up, like clockwork, fight the traffic to work and every day we arrive at the office wanting to do just a little better than the day before and try just that little bit harder.

The all too true adage, hindsight is 20/20, carries the most impact for those who look back with regrets; from the holiday you should’ve taken to the new ride that seemed like a good idea at the time - it’s more often than not a statement of remorse. Mistakes are a constant in life and nobody is perfect, although there are a few who come close, for most of us two words have been muttered and begrudgingly so – ‘if only’.