Whether you’re taking your car on a road trip or just a few blocks down to the store, you may find yourself in an emergency situation. However, if you have the right items stored in your car, you’ll be prepared to face any common emergency. All drivers should have the following five things in their car, just in case.
A Flashlight
It’s not uncommon for emergencies to happen at night. If you need to go outside of your car to inspect your car, it’s a good idea to have a flashlight on hand. Just make sure that you keep extra batteries in your car as well so that you can ensure that your flashlight is able to work even with extended use. Even if your cell phone has a flashlight feature, it’s still good to keep a regular flashlight in your car. It’s better to save your phone’s battery for calling for assistance if necessary.
A Spare Tire
Your tires have to deal with a lot of wear and tear, and almost all drivers have to change a flat tire at some point. This is why you need to keep a spare tire in your trunk along with all of the tools to change it. These tools include things like a lug wrench and a jack. Your spare tire should be compatible with your other tires, so if you have Nissan tires, try to find spare tires that match.
Emergency Flares
If your car is broken down on the side of the road at night, it can be difficult for other drivers to see it, and they may wind up hitting it. This can put you and your passengers in harm’s way. By putting out emergency flares, you can make it easier for other drivers to see your car. This is especially important if you’re changing a tire or fixing something under the car at night.
Road flares are made to be easy to use, but some people still end up with burns from not handling the flares carefully. Your flares should come with instructions, but if they didn’t or if you have lost them, there are some things to keep in mind. Save the cap when you remove it. You can place it on the unlit end of your flare when you put the flare on the road. When lighting the flare, stand parallel to the wind, and hold the flare away from your body. This will help you avoid stray sparks. When placing the flare, it should not be right next to the car. Instead, place it about 50 to 100 feet from the car in the direction that will alert drivers of your position. You may want to create a trail of two or three flares to be as visible as possible. Evenly space them over that 50 to 100 feet.
Jumper Cables
Your car can get a dead battery for a variety of different reasons. When this happens, you may find yourself stranded. If you have jumper cables with you, you may be able to get another driver to jumpstart your car. There are also battery starters available that you can use to jumpstart your car without having to attach it to another vehicle.
A Warm Blanket
Some drivers find themselves in the unfortunate situation of being stranded in very cold weather, and this can turn into an emergency situation quickly. If you live in a cold climate, it’s a good idea to keep a warm blanket in your car. It will help you avoid your body temperature from dipping too low if you are stuck in your car for a while.
Emergency situations can happen to any driver. Because of this, you need to have some essential items in your car. Many of the things mentioned above may prove to be useful if you find yourself in some of the most common emergency situations that affect motorists.
