Summertime means time on the road. Vacations, daytrips, visits to family and friends — the highways and interstates of Texas and beyond are full of travelers this time of year.
But sometimes, things go wrong. That’s when a little planning can make a huge difference and even save lives.
So before you get behind the wheel, stock your car with supplies to get you through the unexpected. Do your best to prepare in case you breakdown, get in an accident or encounter some other unforeseen traffic incident.
Here are the top eight supplies you need before your next road trip.
1. Undivided Attention
The best way to deal with an accident is to avoid one, and the best way to avoid one is to pay attention to the important task of operating your motor vehicle. More than anything, that means turning off, or ignoring, your phone while you’re driving.
In 2016, the latest year for which there is data, 3,450 people were killed and nearly 400,000 people were injured due to distracted driving — almost all of it connected to phone use.
2. Jumper Cables
The best way to avoid being stranded on the side of the road is to make sure your car can start. All batteries die eventually, so make sure you’re equipped the next time yours does. Once you get the jumper cables, it’s really quite simple to learn how to use them.
3. An Emergency Kit
You never know what might happen, so keep an emergency kit in your car. It should contain first aid paraphernalia; non-perishable food, like energy bars, easy-open cans of tuna, and peanut butter; a flashlight, a multi-tool; and matches. You can buy pre-stocked emergency kits in auto parts stores or create one of your own and add to it as you see fit.
4. Your Seat Belt
Seat belts reduce the risk of serious injury to front-seat passenger vehicle occupants by 50% and the risk of death by 45%, so make sure yours is always secured. Survive the crash with minor injuries as a first step to keeping safe.
5. Flares and a Reflective Triangle
These items are critical if you’re stuck at night. They alert other traffic that they need to avoid your vehicle and invite help if you need it.
6. Your Car Manual
It’s amazing how often people remove their manual, but that contains the instructions about how your vehicle works. The manual tells you where parts of the car can be found and a little bit about how they work. If you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, that’s mighty useful.
7. A Tire Pressure Gauge
The most common reason for AAA calls is a flat tire. Checking the tire pressure and filling them up before you start is an easy way to prevent trouble.
8. Spare Tire or Tire Inflator and Sealant
These items aren’t enough: you need to know how to use them. Fixing a flat isn’t all that hard, once you know how to do it. But if you’re not getting on your hands and knees no matter what, a tire plug in a can will get you 50 miles or so to the nearest service station.
When you have an emergency and time is of the essence, don’t waste time: call Pop-A-Lock of Corpus Christi, the locksmith thousands of people have learned to trust. For more information, visit them at PopALockCorpusChristi.com or call 361-851-6736.
Corpus Christi, TX 78408