Best Muscle Cars
The Muscle Car Breakdown Emergency Checklist
Vehicle breakdowns never happen at a convenient time, and if you’re not prepared, they can be disastrous. If you have road assistance and a phone with a signal, then you can call for help, but if you can’t get any cell reception, you could be in for a long night before any help comes.
Having a well-stocked emergency roadside kit in your trunk is smart and essential to survival in some scenarios. If you travel long distances, a roadside emergency kit can mean the difference between being stranded for hours and getting back on the road. But most people do not carry even essential items to help in the case of an emergency kit.
A roadside emergency kit is a necessity, and all drivers should make sure they have one in their car. When you are putting together your emergency kit, keep in mind the age and condition of your vehicle and the weather outside.
Roadside Emergency Kit
A roadside emergency checklist should include many of the following items:
- Flairs or triangle reflectors
- Jumper cables, or a lithium-ion battery with jumper cables. If you get a battery with jumper cables, it’s essential to make sure it is always charged.
- A quart of motor oil
- First-aid kit
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Warm blankets
- Tool kit that includes screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrench and pocket knife
- Ice scraper (essential if you live in an area with snow)
- Tire pressure gauge
- Candles and matches
- Can of tire inflator or sealant
- Spray bottle with washer flue
- Paper towels
- Pen and paper
- Granola or energy bars
- Bottled water
- Fire extinguisher
Once you’ve put together your roadside emergency kit, you a bin to store all the items together in your trunk to stop them from rolling around or getting lost. However, make sure you store things where they are easily accessible in case you need them in a hurry.
Another way to be prepared for if you ever find yourself stranded on the side of the road, is to familiarize yourself with the items in your roadside emergency kit. The first time you use an item in your package, should the need occur, you don’t want to be reading through instructions when you’d already be impatient and stressed from having your car breakdown. Inspect your spare tire regularly to make sure it’s still in good condition, and if you are taking a long driving trip and are expecting to drive through numerous remote areas, add more non-perishable food, a shovel, and cat litter to your emergency kit. It’s always a good idea to add a change of clothes to your roadside emergency kit, especially for the winter months, when you might need to dig out of snow.
In the event that you get stuck in the middle of nowhere, make sure you have the means to call for help if your phone has no signal. Consider installing a citizens band (CB) radio in your car, or get a compact CB radio that you can bring with you anywhere. If you frequently go on long drives or road trips, a CB radio is a valuable communication tool for getting around and getting out of trouble safely.
No one tool can fix all roadside emergencies, but with planning and preparation, you can have a little more peace of mind with your roadside emergency kit in the trunk. Being prepared helps ensure that you or any passenger in your car are safe while waiting for help.
Road Side Safety
Anytime you have car trouble, it’s essential to make sure you pull over as far off the road and onto the shoulder you can and turn on your hazard signals immediately as a warning to other drivers that you are having a problem with your vehicle. If there is no need to get out of your car, then don’t. If you must leave the car, be extremely careful, and getting out on the shoulder side of the vehicle is possible. When traveling with children, keep them safely in the car with their belts on. When you are not able to fix a tire, etc., or are not positive about what is wrong with your car, then stay inside and call for assistance. Wait in the car until help arrives.
Cold Weather Concerns
A breakdown in the winter brings on a variety of extra concerns. A sudden snowstorm with poor visibility will make it more difficult for other drivers to see you on the side of the road. If your car breakdown on you in the winter, pull over safely and call for help immediately. Stay in your vehicle until help arrives. Winter conditions make everything more difficult and dangerous when you have a breakdown. Tow trucks have bright emergency lights that make them visible to other drivers, so they slow down, but without them, your car isn’t visible, and if you are out of your vehicle on the side of the road, you are not visible. Safety is the most important thing to remember on any emergency checklist.
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