Turnsignl: Something So Right

Sometimes a new application arrives in the market that is so disruptive, so out of left field, that you just know auto makers aren't going to get it. Worse, the single-minded pursuit of the almighty dollar may well blind key decision-makers at car companies to a brand defining, market transforming solution capable of fundamentally changing their relationship with their customers.

Turnsignl is that solution. Launched more than three years ago as an app, Turnsignl is daily coming to the rescue of drivers in jeopardy - either following a crash or being pulled over by the police. Drivers that have downloaded the app have gained instant access to a now-nationwide network of lawyers prepared to interact with officers, first responders, or errant drivers live on-demand.

In the early days, Turnsignl manifested as a Facetime-style call with a lawyer - yes, on demand. But thanks to Google Automotive Services (GAS) being deployed in a growing number of new cars, the live video feed can now be demonstrated by Turnsignl in any car that is GAS-equipped including cars from Polestar, Volvo, General Motors, Ford Motor Company and others.

It's difficult to say which is more impressive/mind-blowing, the in-dash Facetime call or the flexibility of Google's GAS platform to enable simplified demonstrations of the application - or any application presumably. No doubt, this Google approach is fueling the shift in the industry toward beta testing new apps - an approach being pioneered by Mercedes Benz but increasingly mimicked across the industry.

But this post is focused on Turnsignl. New leadership at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been increasingly focused on after-crash care. The agency has identified thousands of post-crash deaths that could possibly have been prevented or avoided with enhanced and accelerated crash response.

In addition to finally closing the loop on national coverage for its on-demand attorney response capability, Turnsignl added after-crash legal assistance within the past year. The real deal, though, is the in-dash Facetime experience. What might car makers or first responders do with an in-dash video access point in every car?

Turnsignl has opened the door to a new reality that, for some unknown reason not a single auto maker has pounced on as an essential customer service - to say nothing of an amazing differentiating solution. We hear about streaming video to dashboard, games, movies, conference calls, social media in the dash. How about legal assistance when it's needed most?

As for a revenue stream, I can't imagine a parent of a teenager, a spouse, or a relative of a senior driver that wouldn't want Turnsignl available in the dashboard on demand. The opportunity is still out there for some car company to be the first to deliver this solution. It's amazing. It's life saving. It's time.