Unfortunately, many people hit the road in their vehicles without making provisions for an emergency. And chances are the emergency, when it comes, happens late at night on a lonely stretch of highway.
More and more Americans commute, sometimes long distances on a regular basis, and having a roadside emergency kit can do a lot to get you back on the road and headed for home. Regardless of how much or how little you drive, every vehicle should carry an emergency kit, but unfortunately, most don’t. To build your own emergency roadside kit, some of the basic items you should include are:
- 12-foot jumper cables
- Four roadside flares
- Motor oil
- Antifreeze
- First aid kit
- Blanket
- Extra fuses
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Tire inflator
- Rags or paper towels
- Duct tape
- Spray bottle of windshield fluid
- Pocketknife
- Ice scraper
- Pen and paper
- Help sign
- Energy bars or MREs
- Bottled water
Some companies offer a premade emergency roadside kit and, while they contain some basics in a nice carrier, you should consider adding to this with at least some of the items listed above if they are not already included.
Since you are putting the kit together to use in the event of an emergency, it is a good idea to test items and learn how to use them properly beforehand.
Roadside emergency kits can be especially helpful if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident. However, it is wise to also consult an experienced Maryland car accident attorney after an accident. Contact Jonathan Scott Smith online or call (410) 441-5054 to discuss your car accident.