Road Safety Tips

Road Safety Tips

Posted on September 1, 2015

The best road safety tips to remember are to be prepared by having several key safety items in your trunk, and to drive as defensively as you can at all times. 

Whether it's an emergency road kit, jumper cables or a spare tire that is in good condition, there are certain essentials that you'll need to have in your vehicle at all times in order to be well-prepared for road safety.  Here are some important road safety items you should always carry in your trunk:

Jumper Cables
Jumper cables are a relatively inexpensive way to start your battery when it's dead. All you will need in addition to the jumper cables is a friendly driver who is willing to stop and help you out.

Spare Tire in Good Condition
It's easy to just throw a flat tire you replaced last time into the trunk and forget about it. So make sure that each time you change a tire on the road, a new or fixed tire becomes the new spare tire you carry around in your vehicle for emergencies.

Tire Sealer and Inflater
Sometimes you can plug a hole with the tire sealer and inflate your tire just enough to get to a service station or auto dealership.

The Manual to your Vehicle
You should always carry the manual to your car, truck or SUV in your glove compartment. If it's not there, contact the dealership or person you bought your car from and obtain a current car manual so that you always have it.

Contact Information for Vehicle Service & Repair
Another essential to carry in your glove compartment as well as on your smartphone, is the number and address of your dealership's service and repair department, your auto shop, or CAA, as well as insurance claim forms.

Emergency Kit
Your emergency kit can include many more items, but here are a few of the essentials recommended for road safety:

• First aid kit
• Water bottles
• Flashlight
• Maps
• Blanket
• Matches, candle or other fire igniter
• Instant food that can be prepared by mixing with water
• Energy bars
• Water bottles
• Reflective triangle or flares (to alert other drivers if you are stuck at the side of the road)

Tire Pressure Gauge
Many drivers don't check their tire pressure regularly, but if you do your tires will probably last longer and you will get better fuel economy. It's also a safe practice for road safety to use your tire pressure gauge to check your tires.

These are just a few of the basic items to ensure road safety when you are on the road. There are many other items you can also carry in your trunk, depending on the season in which you are driving.