Emergency Roadside Kit Must-Haves For Your Vehicle

It's late at night, and the road is dark and unfamiliar. The wind whips up leaves and debris and making matters worse, you're in a cell-service dead zone. Then, suddenly, the steering wheel twists in your hands, and you fight to keep your vehicle from heading into the ditch.Once stopped, you open the door and step outside. In the light from your headlights, you discover that your front driver's side tire is flat. Cursing your bad luck, you check the trunk for a spare and discover, much to your dismay, that it's flat, too. Panic grips you. (Toss in a carload of teenagers, and you have the makings for a B-Grade horror movie) This needn't be the case, not if you're prepared with a well-considered roadside emergency kit in your trunk.

Let's consider the options. If you had a bar or two on your cell phone, you could call roadside assistance. (No such luck!) And without a roadside emergency kit, you have three choices: flag down a passing motorist, walk for help or spend a "memorable" evening lost in the sticks.

Let's switch the scene. You go to your trunk and open your emergency kit. Here you find the exact items you need!

1. A set of reflective triangles that you set out to alert oncoming drivers.
2. A small compressor fitted with a can of flat tire repair sealant so you then reinflate the tire (CLICK for other tips on how to fix a flat tire)
3. Non-perishable energy bars, drinking water, and a blanket to keep you comfortable until help does arrive if you can't fix your tire.

A roadside emergency kit can spell the difference between getting back on the road quickly and safely and being stranded in the sticks or along the roadside for hours. Every vehicle should include a roadside emergency kit, and yet, most of us don't carry even the most basic of roadside emergency items necessary to help us get back on the road.

Your vehicle emergency kit should also include

1. A properly inflated spare tire with wheel wrench, and tripod jack
2. Small compressor with flat tire sealant or at least a can of sealant
3. Booster cables
4. Tool kit and/or a multipurpose utility tool
5. Flashlight with extra batteries
6. Reflective triangles and a brightly coloured reflective vest
7. Compass
8. First aid kit
9. Non-perishable high-energy foods such as unsalted nuts, dried fruits, and hard candy
10. Drinking water
11. Car charger for your cell phone
12. Fire extinguisher
13. Duct tape
14.  Additional items for varying weather conditions:
    • Snow brush
    • Shovel
    • Wndshield washer fluid
    • Warm and waterproof clothing
    • Cat litter for traction
    • Candles and blankets.
15. List of family and emergency phone numbers, including your auto insurance provider and a towing company.

A little preparation can save you hours of exasperation. Every vehicle should have a Roadside Emergency Kit located in the trunk. Kits should be checked every six months, and expired items should be replaced to keep them up-to-date.

Our team at Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center is available to help you acquire some of these items and they are available in case of emergency to assist in getting a tow truck to you. They can happily assist getting your vehicle fixed and back on the road quickly so you can get back to your travels.