If you use your car a lot for long journeys away from your home town, it is best to be prepared for things like adverse weather and long traffic jams, so there are certain items that you would find useful that you can carry in your car boot.
Essential
An essential item is your car manual, which should also include car insurance and breakdown information with the necessary telephone numbers. A spare tyre is an obvious must, plus a car jack, and make sure you have your wheel key. A bottle of water will come in handy, either for you to drink or to top up your radiator if you’re stuck in traffic for hours.
Handy
Other useful items include a set of jump leads and a tyre pressure gauge and inflater. Tyre pressure is important both for fuel economy and good road handling, especially in bad weather conditions. If you are driving in the winter months on quiet roads, it would be useful to have a blanket and torch in your boot in case you run into heavy snow or blocked roads. A few snacks, a first aid kit and box of matches would also come in handy.
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Snow
There is nothing worse during cold winter conditions than getting stuck in deep snow and having no tools to dig yourself out, so always carry a snow shovel, an ice-scraper and de-icer. Make sure your car is topped up with antifreeze and screen wash and keep some spare in your boot. Warm clothing and sensible boots with a spare pair of socks could be items that save your life if stuck overnight in a snow drift; it only takes seconds to pop these items into your boot before setting off on a long journey.
Mobile
Most people will have a mobile phone with them – very handy in an emergency but no good if you don’t have the necessary telephone numbers. Apart from family and breakdown numbers, it would be handy to carry the number of silicone hose manufacturers such as Goodflex Rubber in case you are stuck somewhere with a split hose and cannot get home.
Sensible
Common sense should prevail when setting out on a car journey. With the unpredictable British weather, we always need to be prepared for the worst.
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