10 Things to Keep in the Trunk for Extreme Winter Driving
Prepare yourself and your vehicle for any and all winter conditions.
1. Shovel
You never know when you get stuck in front of a mound of snow that your vehicle may or may not be able to overcome.
2. Ice scraper
One of the more difficult things to combat in the cold weather is the formation of ice on your windows. Its quite dangerous to drive without properly scraping off any formed ice on all possible glass surfaces. This includes windshield, rear windshield, all windows and the side mirrors themselves. You can often find Ice scrapers sold together with shovels. Or sometimes they are combo-accessories built with one end being a broom or shovel and the other end as the scraper.
3. Flashlight
Let there be light! But seriously, you'll want one or two of these handy in case you're stuck in an unlit area and need to get a closer look at things. Keeping extra batteries on hand will be equally important.
4. First Aid kit
This is basic no-brainer. But, in your travel haste, it can be easily forgotten. If you or your family get injured on your trip and are off the main roads away from emergency care, these kits can be true lifesavers. You should opt for the kit which includes a pocket knife if you're in a snag and need to be able to cut something.
5. Booster cables
Car batteries operate much harder under extreme temperatures. Should you be victim to a dead battery, you'd want to be well equipped when help is on it's way. Most tow companies carry portable car battery boosters and cables. But, if your service is delayed and a good samaritan crosses your path, you'll want to at least do your part. Keep jumper cables on hand at all times!
6. Emergency Flares
These can be really useful under low visibility conditions. The brightness of flares accompanied with orange reflectors can help you be spotted from a distance. This is crucial under extreme conditions so that you can be aided quicker. Many kits come as a combo which contains a few flares as well as a few reflector pieces.
7. Road salt
Keeping a good amount of this on hand can be very useful for those situations where your vehicle is not grabbing traction on a patch of icy road or snow. You can opt for cat litter or sand bags as well.
8. Tow Chain
This can be really useful if you happen to get stuck in a snow bank or ditch and need assistance from another vehicle to pull you out. It's a lot like booster cables being handy when your battery has died and a good samaritan has offered their assistance.
9. Phone Charger accessories
With everything available to technology today, there is no shortage of phone charging accessories. Be sure to keep an adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter as well as a fully charged portable charger.
10. Food Snacks
When you're stranded, there's no telling how long it would take for assistance to reach you. To keep your energy levels up, it's imperative that you have some snacks available to not excluding water. Energy bars are a great source for situations like these.