Imagine waking up to a cold winter morning. Overnight, the snow fell from the skies, yet the roads and sky are clear. As you walk from the front door, you notice that your car is covered with a hefty layer of snow. You pop open the trunk to get out your ice scraper only to realize it is not there. More than likely you forgot to buy a new one after either breaking or losing it last year.
Without a good brush you go to the next best thing and begin brushing off the snow with your arm. However, you are already running late, so you do a quick wipe down of the main windows. That is as good as it is going to get, so you hop into the seat and head toward work. You pull out of your driveway and head toward the main road. As you drive along to your favorite music, a sheet of snow from the roof slides onto the front windshield. If blocks your entire view of the road ahead and traffic. You are driving blind! You desperately try to turn on your wipers, when it happens. You hit the car at the stop sign with full force.
Thankfully, it is a minor collision and no one is injured. However, this entire scenario could have been prevented if you had been better prepared.
There are a number of steps you can take to help avoid a wintry accident. It is best to always be prepared for the worst while driving on winter roadways. Winter road preparation is key to staying safe while involved in a cold weather road side emergency. If you are prepared for anything, it is going to make your life much easier if you are involved in an accident or simply get stuck in the snow.
You may find that you puncture a tire, run out of gas, slip off the road and having an emergency kit that is going to allow you to get back on the road in a safe and efficient manner.
In addition to the items we have listed below, it is alway essential to have a fully charged phone with you in wintry conditions. You always want to ensure that your phone is fully charged before entering the car and it never hurts to carry a spare battery that is ready to go.
Car Emergency Kit List
The following items should always be kept in a small bag or box in your trunk. It is best to keep them in a clear container to allow you to find exactly what you need when time is of the essence. You can purchase a kit already made or prepare your own.
Bare Minimum Supplies
In any emergency situation, the following items should be with you:
– Hats, socks, gloves and hats.
– Snow brush and ice scrapper.
– Flashlight as well as additional batteries.
– Jumper cables.
– A first aid kit complete with all essentials such as band-aids, gauze, antiseptic wipes, antiseptic cream, etc.
– Bottles of water
– Some form of a multi-tool, such as a Swiss Army knife.
– Reflective road triangles or flares.
– A winter windshield cleaner.
