Five items you must keep in your car for long journeys
You are going on an adventure! Alone or with the family or a friend? And this time you are not taking the plane but driving for an extended period of time. If you are driving for more than a day, I suggest you book a place to stay for a night. Catch some sleep, get some rest so you can keep yourself and everyone out there on the road safe.
Here are five essentials you should always have with you when going on a long journey in a car:
- Documentation
Always have the appropriate documents with you. From being pulled over and needing to prove ownership of your vehicle to being stranded somewhere in search of the right number to call, having the right documentation will always be helpful. Those would include:
- ID or passport
- Driving licence
- Car handbook and logbook
- Car emergency information – this would be the car’s history, contact information of your breakdown cover provider and insurance claim forms as well as any other handy numbers to call in an emergency
- Safety tools
The legal requirements for safety equipment vary from country to country. In most cases, the minimum you should have is a first aid kit. First aid kits for motorists should contain a good selection of first aid suppliers, such as bandages, plasters, dressings and sterile cleaning wipes. Many trusted suppliers will offer specialised first aid kits for vehicles in a convenient small package. Here are some other handy tools to acquire, especially for a long trip.
- Winter tyres and snow chains
- Trolley jack
- Reflective triangles
- Flashlight
- Car hammer/ emergency escape tool
- Fire extinguisher
- Multi-tool – you never know when you are going to need one
- Life savers for your car
Sometimes a little help goes a long way. And if you are well prepared you may not have to call in the AA to help you and you could also save some money.
- Jump leads
- Fuel can
- Duct tape and/or WD-40
- When all else fails
It is good to be prepared for every situation but, no matter how prepared you are, the unexpected can always catch you off guard. In those situations, a good phone with a full battery can be indispensable. Make sure you carry:
- Phone charger for the car
- Power bank
- A solar phone charger
- Weather gear
From being stranded under the warm blazing sun to freezing in the snow and rain it is good to be prepared for any weather changes you may encounter. Especially if your travel includes crossing borders, the climate can easily catch you off guard.
When caught in snowy weather you will be happy to have taken with you:
- Extra warm clothes and/or blankets
- Ice scrapers or a snowbrush
- Windscreen wiper fluid
For rainy and stormy weather:
- An umbrella and/or raincoat
- Extra clothes
- Towels and tissues
And finally for warm and sunny weather the recommendations may include but are not limited to:
- Sunglasses
- Extra clothes
- Lots of bottles of water
Always make sure you are stocked up with snacks and good music for a long drive. A hungry driver can be a cranky one and keeping your mood up during a long drive can be just as important as being well prepared and having everything else you need.
Drive safely!
