Technology is great, isn’t it? Thanks to today’s smartphones, it’s easy to keep up with friends, read the news, enjoy digital media and even blow a virtual trombone. Still, as great as it is, sometimes it pays to exercise a little restraint.

For example: Texting your buds or updating your blog on your phone. Totally awesome. Doing it from behind the wheel of your car? Not so cool (also, maybe illegal, depending on where you live). That’s distracted driving, and it’s nothing to LOL about (note: it’s also nothing to ROFL or LMAO about).

Remember, technology is about making your life easier, not ending it in the blaze of a gruesome multi-car collision on the interstate. So never EVER text, tweet, e-mail or surf the Internet while driving. Pick up your keys, put down your phone and keep your eyes on the road (and your arms and legs inside the motor vehicle at all times).

In fact, if your driving instructor were here, she would tell you to turn everything off (even the stereo) and focus all of your attention on the road. There’s no arguing that, but, if you simply can’t live without your technology, here are some inspired solutions that will help you enjoy – and hopefully survive -- your time on the road.

Use Your Head… set

If you’re the talky sort and you’ve just gotta chat when on the road, it all starts with a Bluetooth headset for hands-free calling. Any old Bluetooth headset might do for an average Joe, but if you’re really looking to achieve hands-free greatness and keep the conversation going, you’ll want to pick the perfect one.

For text or email addicts, there’s the Hero Bluetooth Headset from Jawbone. The Hero will make sure you don’t miss a word, whether it’s spoken, texted or taped. If you prefer an old-fashioned phone call, a noise-cancelling microphone minimizes sound coming from wind or other external sources. Following the trend of many of today’s gadgets, the Hero also has its own selection of apps—MyTalk Dial Apps—that enable all kinds of new and interesting functions.

For example, you might be able to find apps that monitor the battery life of your smartphone. If you’re a social media maniac, you’ll find apps that allow you to use your voice to listen and post directly to social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Now that’s life in the fast lane.

For those of you who are constantly forgetting to charge your earpiece, consider the Plantronics 975 Headset. It comes with a case, that charges the battery, while the headset is inside. It’s built to cancel out background noise, like horns and traffic. Plus, don’t worry about leaving the window open a bit, vents push the wind away from the headset’s two microphones.

The Hero Bluetooth Headset from Jawbone.

Speak Up

If you’re not keen on sticking stuff in your ear (hey, we won’t judge), then a headset might not be for you. How about a speakerphone? Like the headsets above, a good speakerphone will keep your hands free for driving, and there are plenty of options.

The Rocketfish Bluetooth Speakerphone fits nicely onto your Lamborghini’s sun visor (or your minivan’s). It’s easy to set up - just clip it to your visor, sync it, and you’re ready to call. It also allows voice dialing, redial and if you’re not in the mood to chat, call rejection.

If you want a completely hands-free experience, the BlueAnt S4 Speakerphone not only announces incoming calls, it responds to a variety of your voice commands. With this truly voice-controlled speakerphone, you won’t have to take your hands off the wheel to answer calls, dial friends or check messages. The phone book can store 2,000 contacts, so dialing with your voice is easy enough. Then there’s access to Bing 411, providing the latest weather or traffic updates, and even movie times and other entertainment info. Talking to yourself is hardly crazy when you’ve got one of these in your car (though your fellow drivers on the road probably still won’t know the difference).

The BlueAnt S4 Speakerphone and the Zomm Wireless Leash may do two different things, but they both look good doing it.

Keep it on a leash

The Zomm Wireless Leash works like the aforementioned speakerphones, pairing up to your phone via Bluetooth and enabling hands-free calling with incoming call notification. But it’s also got some very unique functions that make it a bit different.

When you pair the Zomm to your phone it will keep tabs on your phone’s location. Get too far away (about 30 feet or so) and you’ll receive an alert. In today’s age, phones are often an extension of one’s self, so losing it can be scary and disorienting. Like its name implies, this device will keep your phone on a leash and ensure it never gets too far away.

In the event of an accident befalling even the most focused of drivers, the Zomm can provide emergency assistance with the push of one button. If for some reason you can’t reach your phone, you can hold the center button on the Zomm and it will have your phone dial emergency assistance. The device can even relay a prerecorded message to the operator on the other end if you’re incapacitated or unable to speak.

So, if safety is your top concern, this device has got your back. For this reason, it's a good option for new drivers and parents to pick up for their teenagers.

Hit the Road

It’s somewhat surprising that the car has become a bit of a technology center itself, with phones, MP3 players, stereo systems, GPS and more filling up the dash and the dashboard. Don’t let that tech be a distraction. The solutions discussed above can take this technology and use it to make you a happier, safer and more effective driver.

If none of these solutions rev your engine, there’s always this. Or this. Ok, maybe not.

Truthfully, there are plenty of other solutions though, including other headsets, speakerphones, Bluetooth kits, services like Sync and OnStar, and much, much more. Hop in the driver’s seat and check ‘em out for yourself, and let us know your top solutions in the comments below.