13 Crucial Car Safety Items to Carry Before Every Journey on the Highway
In the event of a breakdown or emergency on the road, having the right items in your vehicle can make all the difference. Here's a list of top 13 essential items, highly rated and recommended for stocking in your car, drawn from Amazon and emergency preparedness experts.
- All-purpose first aid kit – This kit includes waterproof bandages, gauze pads, an ice pack, and first aid tape for treating minor injuries quickly.
- Multipurpose multitool knife – This compact tool combines a knife, saw, fire starter, window breaker, whistle, and various screwdrivers, ideal for emergency repairs and escape.
- Portable jump starter – This device enables you to jump-start your car battery without another vehicle, crucial for unexpected battery failure.
- Compact tire inflator – An electric pump to quickly inflate tires, maintaining safe tire pressure during trips.
- Emergency blanket and poncho – Lightweight and compact, these items provide warmth and protection from rain in emergencies.
- Dust masks (N95) – These masks protect your lungs from smoke, dust, or debris during wildfires or accidents.
- Backup power bank (solar-charged preferred) – This device keeps your cell phone charged during power outages or emergencies and often includes built-in flashlights and compasses.
- Waterproof and fireproof document pouch – This pouch protects important documents, money, and small valuables from damage and loss.
- Whistle – For signaling rescuers in case you are stranded or injured, usually part of emergency kits.
- Flashlight (preferably rechargeable or with extra batteries) – This tool illuminates dark conditions for repairs or signaling at night.
- Roadside assistance kit – This kit may include warning triangles, high-visibility vest, and basic hand tools for minor car repairs and signaling other drivers.
- Dash cam with navigation functionality – This device records trips for safety evidence and provides GPS navigation, enhancing on-road safety.
- Emergency food and water rations – Non-perishable snacks and bottled water should be kept to sustain you in breakdowns or long waits.
Other essential items include a window-breaker/seatbelt cutter for emergency situations, a cell phone car mount for securely holding a phone while driving, potentially for navigation or emergency calls, a car-repair tool kit, jumper cables, and a snow brush and ice scraper for vehicle maintenance and visibility in adverse weather conditions.
A warm blanket is designed to trap body heat and provide comfort during cold weather emergencies. A small, foldable shovel can be used for digging out a vehicle in snowy or muddy conditions. A car power inverter allows you to power various devices in your car from the cigarette lighter or battery. A battery-powered radio can provide information and entertainment during emergencies when other sources of power may be unavailable.
Being prepared when breaking down on the road is crucial. This article was written by Emily Laurence for HuffPost, discussing the importance of these items for diverse emergency scenarios on the road. While some of these items may have been sent as samples, they were independently selected by the editors. The editors may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
- To ensure comfort and safety in unexpected situations, update your lifestyle with outdoor-living essentials for home-and-garden, such as an all-purpose first aid kit, multipurpose multitool knife, portable jump starter, compact tire inflator, emergency blanket and poncho, dust masks, a backup power bank, waterproof and fireproof document pouch, whistle, flashlight, roadside assistance kit, dash cam, emergency food and water rations, window-breaker/seatbelt cutter, cell phone car mount, car-repair tool kit, jumper cables, snow brush and ice scraper, warm blanket, small, foldable shovel, car power inverter, and a battery-powered radio during your shopping spree.
- Unlock deals-and-discounts in the home-and-garden section for quality items like the all-purpose first aid kit, multipurpose multitool knife, portable jump starter, compact tire inflator, emergency blanket and poncho, dust masks, a backup power bank, waterproof and fireproof document pouch, whistle, flashlight, roadside assistance kit, dash cam, emergency food and water rations, window-breaker/seatbelt cutter, cell phone car mount, car-repair tool kit, jumper cables, snow brush and ice scraper, warm blanket, small, foldable shovel, car power inverter, and a battery-powered radio to optimize preparation for diverse road emergencies.
