If you are old enough to remember the transition from the 20th to the 21st century, you are probably familiar with the idea of carrying a winter survival kit in your car – especially if you live in an area known for harsh winters. But let us take the idea of a survival kit one step further. Are there things to carry in your car that you might need in a non-survival situation? Absolutely.
Winter driving can be a real hassle. Even in the middle of town, you can run into problems that ruin your day. You might not be in danger of freezing to death on the side of the road, but you still might be late for work or an important medical appointment. You might find yourself loaded with a car full of groceries when something goes wrong.
Here are four pieces of kit to have in your car this winter; you might need them even if you are not in a life-threatening situation:
1. Wiper Fluid
If you’re an experienced winter driver, you know one of the undeniable truths of the seasonal experience: you never realize how valuable wiper fluid is until your reservoir is empty and you have a windshield covered with salt. A jug of wiper fluid is one of winter driving’s essentials. Make sure you always have some wiper fluid in the trunk.
2. A Collapsible Shovel
It’s not hard to slip and slide during a storm. It is also not hard to wind up in a ditch after losing control. Keep a small shovel in the trunk just in case. That way, you might be able to dig yourself out rather than having to call for an expensive tow. That same shovel might prove handy in helping you get out of the parking lot at work – after the plow deposited a nice mound behind your rear bumper.
3. A Portable Jump Starter
Few things are as deflating to winter drivers as hearing a clicking sound when you turn the key to start your car. Cold weather and dead batteries go hand-in-hand. This winter, don’t rely on the kindness of strangers to help you with a dead battery. Instead, invest in a portable jump starter. It’s really just a battery pack with attached cables. Yet a jump starter can be extremely valuable.
As a side note, Clore Automotive recommends not leaving a jump starter in your trunk. It is better to take it in the house with you and then grab it as you head back out the door. And after every use, the unit needs to be recharged.
4. An Ice Scraper and Snow Brush
Another winter driving essential is a combination ice scraper and snow brush. You might prefer two separate units, which is okay, as long as you have the means to clear your car of snow. Note that most states have made it illegal to drive before completely clearing your vehicle of all snow and ice. Your car must be clean so that you can:
- See out the windshield and side windows; and
- Drive without snow and ice flying off and hitting other cars.
Don’t be that person who hops in the car, runs the wipers for five seconds, and then drives off with a car still fully covered. That person is a danger to himself and others.
As this post is being written, winter is just a few short weeks away. Don’t be caught unprepared. In addition to your survival kit, make sure you have the four items discussed in this post. You might regret it otherwise.
