Essentials You Should Always Have In Your Car For Any Emergency

How many people do you know that either commute to work for more than an hour a day or make their living with automobile travel as a key component? How many other acquaintances do you have who vacation by car? That is a sizable number of people. Nearly everyone uses a car one way or another for a great part of their life for work or pleasure.

In a recent story from June, 2014 the LA Times business section on automobiles noted IHS statistics that showed “the average age of vehicles on U.S. roads has hit a plateau of about 11.4 years, according to an annual study by IHS Automotive, an auto industry research firm.” He cited the reason for this is the increasing quality of the product produced out of Michigan and overseas.

They expect that average to plateau for the next few years then rise to 11.5 years by 2017 and 11.7 years by 2019. IHS serves international clients in seven major industries: aerospace and defense, automotive, chemical, energy, finance, maritime, and technology. Their automotive division reports that 253 million vehicles were on the road this year in the United States-an increase of 3.7 million over last year. That is the highest level in the United States in the last decade.

The AAMVA a.k.a. the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators serves as an information clearinghouse for these same disciplines, and acts as the international spokesman for these interests. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration sets standards for manufacturers which include among other things seat belts, child safety restraints, airbags, locks. That is a minimum! Many manufacturers these days, especially for new cars, have a GPS system installed.

Here are some of the items that we feel you should carry in your car.

An absolute must for any traveler is an emergency food and first aid kit that contains first aid supplies which can save your life and food just in case of an emergency. All of this is packaged in a handy backpack that can be used for camping as well as traveling. A reflective triangle to alert passersby of an emergency with your car. It is generally recognized as a sign of distress around the world. We would also recommend that you carry jumper cables, a reflective safety vest, oil funnel, and towrope. You may also want to carry a roll of duct tape-the universal fix it solution.

The chances of getting stranded on a highway are relatively slim, but as the commuters in Atlanta, Georgia discovered in the winter of 2014 a freak snowstorm with only two inches of snow caught the city unawares and stranded tens of thousands on their way to work and paralyzed a city of 6 million.

I got caught up in that and abandoned my car and walked to work. Most people wouldn’t do that, so we recommend a survival blanket to keep you warm while you’re waiting for help. And last but not least we recommend a high powered flashlight stun gun for both your personal safety and as an emergency lighting source.

You will find our blog post on Valuable Auto Safety Tips very informative and a good resource for our readers.

What do you carry in your car for safety and security? We want to hear your thoughts.