No one likes to imagine the worst but there's no harm in preparing for it.
What to include in your in-car emergency kit:
- Spare coolant, oil and windshield-washer fluid.
- A fully-charged mobile or, failing that, a charger that works off your cigarette lighter.
- A torch – handy if you break down at night and need to inspect your car's engine or alert a passer by.
- Jump leads to kick start the battery should it ever flat line.
- An ice scraper – crucial for clearing the windscreen and windows in winter.
- A portable air compressor – an easy-to-use, compact tool that can reinflate a slow-leaking tire, very quickly.
- Versatile and lightweight, duct tape can act as a quick for just about anything.
- Stay hydrated on long journeys, and when waiting for roadside assistance, by keeping spare bottles of water to hand.
- Store warm, waterproof clothing in your boot. A warm jacket may prove indispensable when waiting for roadside assistance.
- In winter the interior of your car is often colder than the exterior. If you ever breakdown and have to spend some time inside your vehicle, a lit candle (in a safe container) will raise the temperature by a few, vital degrees.
