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Remember the old American Express commercial, where Karl Malden implored you to never leave home without their card in your wallet? As a driver, there are certain things that should be treated exactly the same way, and you should never leave your garage without making sure you’ve got them in your car. The list below is by no means comprehensive, since I carry a lot more than five items in each of my cars. I’d call these my top five, and this list should inspire you to come up with a few of your own.
First aid kits are required for motorists in much of Europe, and many states have enacted legislation that requires trained first-aiders to stop and render assistance at the scene of an accident. In all of my years behind the wheel, I’ve only been first on the scene at one or two accidents; still, a first aid kit is the very first thing I put in a new car when I buy it. Even if you never need to tend to a total stranger by the side of the road, you’ll be amazed at how often you’re reaching for hand sanitizer, adhesive bandages or ibuprofen. Make sure to replace outdated items on a regular basis, since you never know when you’ll need them.
I keep Mini-Maglite flashlights, upgraded with LED bulbs, in all of my cars. They don’t take up much room, are bright enough to work with and can free your hands if you clutch them in your teeth. Since the LED bulbs yield more light and consume less power, they’re a natural upgrade to ensure that the batteries don’t run down before you finish changing that tire.
If you want a brighter light, look into the “mini tactical lights” available at most outdoor retailers. They’ll produce a much brighter light, but their (expensive) lithium batteries run down rather quickly. Their bulbs can get hot, too, creating a potential fire risk if the light is accidentally left on in the glove box.
Think of these as rubber gloves on steroids, since they’re much more durable than flimsy latex gloves yet still provide a good sense of touch. They’re essential if you’re giving first aid, but you’ll probably use them more often for roadside repairs. Carry at least three or four pairs with you at all times, since when you need them, you’ll probably need more than one pair.
It never fails: you always remember to charge your phone, except for the time you get a nail in your tire, at night, in a less than safe part of town. If you can’t make a call, you could be in serious trouble, so go invest in a cell phone charger for your car. Chances are good that there’s a generic one for your phone, which will probably cost considerably less money than the manufacturer’s original car charger. As an alternative, you could buy a battery booster for your phone and keep that in your glove box, but even those won’t provide as much talk time as a car adapter.
In this day and age of smartphones, why would you carry a notepad instead of just typing a note on your cellphone? Simple: hand-written notes are quick, finger typed notes aren’t. Say you’ve just witnessed a hit and run accident. Opening the glove box, grabbing the notepad and jotting a note will take far less time than opening up a notepad app and typing a memo on a smartphone. Notepads let you leave notes for other drivers, smartphones don’t. Notepads never lock up, and they never run out of battery power. They’re cheap and you probably have several in your kitchen junk drawer already.
If you drive an older car, you may have to add oil or coolant to the list, and a few clean rags are always a good idea. Having a comprehensive emergency kit is also a sound strategy if you‘ve got the trunk space for one. Like insurance, these things provide peace of mind, even if you never need them in an actual worst-case scenario.
Photo credit: morgueFile