7 Essentials Every NC Driver Should Have in Their Car

Oct 8, 2015

phone Even the best drivers can encounter unexpected circumstances on the road. Having a few essential items on hand, especially in unpredictable the fall and winter months, can make a big difference and keep you out of a real emergency. Here are seven items that all drivers in North Carolina should keep with them.

An Old Cell Phone

You probably have some old cell phones lying around. You can put them to good use, and they may even save your life in an emergency. Keep an old cell phone, fully charged and powered off, in your car. If snow suddenly pops up or you have an emergency, you can turn it on to call 911.

Sustenance

Whether you’re heading to work or going on a longer trip through North Carolina or beyond, having some bottled water and snacks on hand can keep a bad situation from turning into an emergency. Having a few bottled waters and high energy snacks in your trunk can help you out immensely if you get stuck somewhere, even if it’s just for a few hours.

Blankets

North Carolina winters are tricky. And even if the weather is night, needing to spend a few hours at night in your car is often unpleasant. If you have blankets on hand, you’ll stay warm and get some much-needed sleep.

Road Flares and Flashlights

Roads can get very dark at night, and you never know when you’ll have to change a tire. Putting out road flares will make sure that other drivers see you. Likewise, having a flashlight with you, along with some extra batteries, is essential if you have to change a flat.

Change of Clothes

If you’re driving in a winter storm, you could get hit by freezing rain, sleet, snow, or all the above. Besides having supplies on hand for true emergencies, having items like a change of clothes can get you through a trying experience. Getting a flat in a storm means you’ll get wet, and you don’t want to sit in freezing wet clothes the rest of the way.

A Piece of a Carpet

Another way to recycle old things is by keeping a piece of carpet in your car. If you get stuck in snow, ice, or even just mud, you can wedge the carpet remnant beneath one of the driving tires. Then, move out in the direction of the carpet. Use it as a truck liner so you don’t take up extra space, and you’ll always be ready.

Road Salt

Sometimes road conditions are less than ideal if you’re faced with a winter storm. If you get stuck in ice, having road salt can save you. Pour a lot of it near the ice, then wait for an hour in the car under the blanket you’ve packed. Once the time passes, use your carpet to get out the rest of the way.

You’ll be surprised at how little space all this takes up. In the end, it can get you out of a tough situation.

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