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Everyone who drives knows how to put their key into the ignition and start the car in order to start driving. They also know how to slide the gearshift into D, or shift the car into first gear to start going. What every driver may not know is that there are several things that they should carry in their car, whether it be in the trunk or the glove box, that are vital while driving. Including carrying them with you, you also should know the basic ways to use them in order to keep your car in good condition, and to keep yourself and other drivers safe.
The first item every driver should keep handy is a tire gauge. This is perhaps the most inexpensive and most often overlooked item on the list. Checking the tire pressure is important for both gas mileage and for maintaining a safe amount of air in a car's tires to avoid a potentially very dangerous blowout. Next, every driver should have a set of jumper cables in their trunk, and know how to use them. It is not as simple as hooking them up to the battery's posts and getting going again, if the battery dies. Drivers must know the difference between the positive and negative posts and apply jumper cables properly to recharge the battery and prevent further damage.
No matter the season, every driver should keep on hand at least a half a bottle of windshield washer fluid. Whether it's winter and the driver is using it to de-ice the windshields, or if it's just barely raining and the windshield is becoming difficult to see through, washer fluid is vital to safety and good opacity for drivers. In the winter, no driver should be without a can of de-icing spray. This kind of spray can be applied to a frozen window or windshield to quickly de-ice the surface, for a better and safer way of driving. Too often, drivers rely on the mechanical defrosting system, which can be slow to heat. This sometimes will cause a person to become very impatient where they will then start driving while the windows are still opaque from frost, and this causes an un-safe environment for the driver and other drivers on the road.
Duct tape is an item that is often overlooked, but it can become a lifesaver in a vehicle. Here is a list of what duct tape can provide, when in some car trouble:
1) It can be used to make a temporary repair to a hose that has become cracked.
2) It can be used to secure windshield wipers that have become detached from the based, as long as they have not completely broken.
3) It can also be used to secure minor parts that have become loose to prevent them from falling off a presenting a danger to other drivers.
The next thing no driver should be without is a can of WD-40. It can serve many purposes, from de-icing frozen locks, to cleaning corroded battery posts if a car's battery is not dead, just weakened by posts covered in gunk. This little can, can work wonders by removing grease from hands and clothing, whenever repairs at the side of the road become necessary.
Lastly, no driver should be without a set of basic hand tools. No mechanical set up is required here, just the basics like several sizes of wrenches and screwdrivers, as well as some strong cutting tools. With these seven items on hand, there should be no roadside emergency that a driver cannot handle on his or her own. On a closing note, make sure you are always equipped with a fully charged cell phone, just in case all else fails!
