Whether you are journeying to work or venturing out for a well-deserved break, no one expects to break down or be involved in unexpected and unpleasant situation. The only way to deal with these is to be prepared and equip your car with essential and practical items. You may never even need to use them, but it gives you peace of mind if the instance were to occur.
Phone Cable
There’s nothing worse than finding out that your phone is running out of charge during a long journey or one that you are not familiar with. Even worse, you could find fault with your vehicle and need to contact the relevant personnel to come assist you. Considering you have a USB port within your vehicle, you should always carry a phone charger with you to prevent these situations from occurring. You may also want to play your own music during trips instead of having to listen to long-winded adverts on the radio. Cars like the Vauxhall Corsa-e have a Bluetooth system installed so listening to your favourite songs is now easier than ever.
High visibility clothing
In the unfortunate case that you break down, you must ensure that you have a reflective triangle to place on the road to alert other drivers that there will be an obstruction ahead. The highway code advises that this be placed at least 45 metres behind your vehicle and on the same side of the road. Similarly, a high-visibility jacket should be worn to protect yourself and allow you to be seen in darker periods by other road users. This is essential when traversing the hard shoulder for an emergency telephone.
Dash cam
The dash cam is becomingly increasingly popular for UK motorists and for good reason. In the case of an accident, you readily have evidence, and you don’t have to rely on the opinion of passers-by. You may even be able to provide useful insight for accidents that you have witnessed and offer the authorities crucial details about reckless driving. Having a dash cam fitted can even help to reduce your insurance premiums, provided you are a safe and reliable driver.
Steering wheel security lock
At some point or another, you may need to leave your vehicle in an area that may be deemed unsafe. In these scenarios, it would be in your best interest to use a ‘crook lock’. These devices have a really simple locking mechanism and are designed to fit all steering wheels. They render the steering wheel unusable and are therefore a fantastic way of discouraging criminal activity. They are relatively inexpensive and can be hidden away when not in use within the boot.
Tire inflator and repair kit
A swiftly deflating tire can lead to a multitude of problems, so it is best to act fast in these times. A digital tire pressure gauge can measure the pressure within the tire and inflate to the required amount – which you should check using your driver manual first. If there is a puncture or injury to the tire, a repair kit can provide an instantaneous fix that will enable you to continue your journey until you can find a suitable place to have it fixed.
