Autos Travel

What should always be in a car on a long journey?

Modern motorists seldom think about what they need to have in the car in case of an emergency. There are understandable reasons for this. The equipment has become incredibly reliable and does not require maintenance for tens of thousands of kilometers, and the roads are filled with developed infrastructure and numerous gas stations, service centers…

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Any motorist can get into an unpleasant situation, especially on a long trip abroad. Therefore, you should always be ready for this. We recommend getting all of these necessary things in order to have them in your car. In this article, we will tell you what must be in your car, except for things already written in the Traffic Laws.

Headlamp cleanliness

It has been proven that riding with dirty headlights, especially in the dark, is extremely dangerous. That is why the headlights must be cleaned before each trip! For this, special sprays with a rubber brush are best suited. Spray it several times on the headlamp and then remove all the dirt.

Phone numbers “just in case”

Write down several useful telephone numbers: your insurance company, a spare parts store for your car model, a car service, a tow truck service, a lawyer (if you have one), a mobile tire service, a taxi, a ‘sober driver’ service and technical assistance services on the road. Moreover, it should be done for not only one city. It is better to find the coordinates of organizations that work throughout the country you are visiting (for example, auto clubs – even if you are not a member, they will come to help you, for fee, of course).

Tow rope

This aide is often neglected by the motorists, and in vain. Drivers do not bother; instead, they take some kind of strong rope or something resembling a cable. You know what this leads to – the rope breaks, bursts, because it is not designed for such loads.

When choosing a towrope, do not forget to look at all the nuances – weight, type of the car and the season of your journey.

Reflective vest

Its use is voluntary in many countries. Whereas in the EU, reflective vests for drivers are just as necessary as first-aid kits. In most Western European countries, this is enshrined in law, and the practice has been successfully applied. For the absence of this product with an average price of 2 euros, you will need to pay a fine (for example, for Portugal it is 6 hundred euros). Do not forget to read about the vest necessity, when you are picking a country for your road holiday.

Safety signal vest is visible from a distance of 600 m. It is well identified at dusk. This allows drivers to slow down in advance and go around a standing car. For comparison: in the absence of a vest, a person in front of the car can be seen in just 200 m. This is 8 seconds at a speed of 90 km / h. If the person wears dark clothes, and it is foggy on the street, the visibility is reduced even more.

Technical fluids

Put small tanks with brake fluid and power steering fluid in the trunk, a gauge with engine oil. It is not necessary to carry coolant – in an emergency, ordinary water can be added to the tank – this will not lead to serious consequences. However, do not forget to change it to the appropriate coolant at the first opportunity.

What may be necessary when driving in winter?

To reduce the number of unpleasant accidents on the winter road, we recommend that you take the following items with you:

a shovel, which will be extremely useful in the case of strong snowstorms and large snowdrifts on the road;
a small amount of crushed stone and sand will become the best helpers when the road surface is iced;
a chain on wheels that prevents slipping (it is especially important to take it with you on a long trip); Important! Use the snow chains correctly, as they can lead to very fast tire wear and even emergencies. Alternatively, you can use plastic covers for tires that play the same role as chains.
warm clothes for yourself and passengers: gloves, blanket, woolen socks, heating pad.
food and hot drinks that are best to be stored in a thermos. Take nourishing food.
a flashlight, which is especially important to have with you in the winter, because at this time of the year the sun goes down early.

Even the most reliable cars can fail, because the quality of vehicles rarely matches the quality of road surfaces. The causes of breakdowns or other unforeseen situations can be a great many, and for each of them the motorist must prepare in advance. For this reason, do not forget to take on the road everything according to the Traffic Laws and the items, which are noted in our list.

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