Things you should always keep in your car

Your car is probably home to at least one old coffee mug, a handful of stale French fries and more sticky coins than you can count. But does it have everything you need in case of an emergency? As compiled from tescobank.com and Prevention magazine, use this as a checklist for your next road trip.

Water bottles



If worst-case scenarios hit, some bottled water can be a lifesaver. In China, a woman who plunged off a cliff in her SUV survived for five days on just half a bottle of water and some grapes. But a bottle of H20 will also provide some comfort during more ordinary problems, like engaging in a roadside repair on your car, says NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Cole Whitt, a driver for Speed Stick.

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Traction mats or sand



When your car’s spinning its wheels on rainy soil, or mud, a traction mat made of plastic or lightweight rubber — or traction sand can help you get unstuck. Place them under your tires so they have something to grip. You can pick up a local equivalent of a rubber mat from a petrol pump or a car shop. Have some spare kitty litter or dry sand from the beach? Put a bag in your truck and use that over a normal car mat, then under your tire to get your trapped car running again.

 

Blankets



You’ll want a blanket in the backseat in case a rainstorm or sandstorm strikes while you’re returning home from your roadtrip to Murree. If you become stranded, you surely don’t want yourself or your toddler freezing, says car expert Alan Taylor, host of syndicated radio show The Drive. But it’s also worth its weight during hot, sunny weather, too. Sitting on a blanket will keep you from frying on the pavement as you tinker with your car on the side of the road or wait for a tow truck to arrive, says Taylor. Any kind of blanket will do, and don’t worry that it’s too big; fold it up and stash it in the trunk to keep it out of the way.

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Cash



Don’t put all your faith in your credit card. You may find yourself in a scenario — say, needing to buy a snack from an old-timey store or a thaila on the side of the road, to pay certain tolls like the ones you have to pay while driving to a picnic. Or simply get gannay ka juice from an old-school juice kiosk — in which your platinum card becomes no more valuable than a piece of plastic. So stash some cash in an old sock and hide it in your trunk. Think smaller bills, says Taylor. A couple hundred to a thousand rupees or so should cover any emergency that comes your way.

Jumper cables



This is an obvious one, but an absolute essential: buy a pair of #4 or #6 gauge jumper cables to keep in your trunk, says Taylor. Many a times, your new car too, could be out of battery and you can’t just stop middle of the road begging strangers for a jump start. Six to eight feet in length is ideal for bring your car back to life or offering a charge to someone else.

Flashlight



Keep a LED flashlight in your car at all times, says Taylor. It’s better than your phone’s light because you can secure the magnet to your vehicle while freeing up your hands to take care of the problem. Plus, you won’t have to worry about draining the battery on your cell phone in case you need to call for help. If the lights inside of your car ever fuse, a flashlight can be an absolute lifesaver.

Duct tape



Ever seen someone driving around with his car taped together? That’s because it works — at least well enough to give you time to reach your mechanic or a repair shop, says Taylor. You’ll be glad you have it if you’re in an accident and your car is driveable, but a side mirror, bumper, or part of your grille is hanging off. If you don’t want to lose your car parts post-accident, or don’t wish to electrocute yourself from a split hot wire (which can be fixed using a duct tape), please go invest in one today.

By Umnia Shahid

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2015.

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