Most people I know have a first-aid kit at home. You never know when you might suffer a cut or scrape. Even so, most people aren’t ready for similar situations on the road. This is a huge mistake! Here are five reasons you need to keep an emergency kit in your car. #5 is super persuasive…

1. It’s not expensive.

If you spend $5 on a frappuccino at Starbucks twice every week, that adds up to $40 per month. That’s about how much it costs to create an emergency kit for your car.

Isn’t your safety and well-being more important than a temporary caffeine fix? I think so! There are prepackaged emergency kits by AAA, Bridgestone, and Top Gear available on Amazon. They’re reasonably priced for an investment that could save your butt from a bad situation!

2. It’s not complicated.

I know you are a busy person. By the time you go to work, pick up your kids after school, drop them off at practice, attend an evening class, participate in a hobby, (or whatever you like to do), it’s hard to find time for anything else.

Fortunately, making an emergency kit doesn’t require a whole lot of effort. Heck, you could just buy a prepackaged one on the Internet and have it shipped to your house. I’m all about fast and easy!

Would you rather make your own emergency kit? That’s okay, too! You don’t have to do the whole thing at once. Feel free to buy one item at a time! (I’ll provide a list of things to include at the end.)

3. You never know when or where an accident might happen.

How many times have you thought a new job or relationship would change your life for the better… only to be disappointed later?

I’m not asking that question to make you feel bad. We all make mistakes. I just want you to understand humans stink at predicting the future.

If you can’t foresee problems so basic, how could you ever hope to foresee something as sudden and random as a traffic accident? Hint: It’s not possible. 

  • It could happen 5, 500, or 5,000 miles from home.
  • It could happen in the morning, afternoon, or evening
  • It could happen in a parking lot, neighborhood, or Interstate.

There’s no way to guess! Be ready for anything. 

4. You can’t control the actions and behaviors of other drivers.

It doesn’t matter how good you are at driving. Anyone can get blindsided by a traffic accident at anytime. That’s not to say safe driving practices are unimportant.

If you follow traffic laws and focus on your surroundings, your risk of having a wreck will decrease. People who don’t do those things won’t be able to react until it’s too late… and you could pay the price for their negligence.

Drivers run traffic lights, break the speed limit, change lanes without checking their blind-spot, and make bad driving decisions everyday. Put an emergency kit in your car just in case one of those bad decisions ever affects you.

5. The average driver has at least 3-4 accidents in their lifetime.

This is not an abstract concept. It is a concrete reality. Insurance estimates show you can expect to have 3-4 traffic accidents during your life. 

Most of those accidents won’t be serious — this data includes everything from fender benders to high speed crashes that cause fatalities — but it’s good to err on the side of caution. Even if you only have one wreck serious enough to require tools from an emergency kit, isn’t that worth $20-40?

Maybe you’ll never need to use your emergency kit. Wouldn’t that be nice? I still think the investment would pay off, because it’s comforting to know you’re prepared for anything the road might throw at you.

“Sounds great, Audra… but what should I put inside my emergency kit?”

Don’t forget you can buy emergency kits that are prepacked with just about everything you need. Still, you might be interested in a DIY approach. Below is a list of items I would recommend, plus a quick note to explain why.

1. Phone charger

You don’t want to be stranded or stuck in the snow without a way to call for help. Trust me on this!

2. Paper and pencil

Pens run out of ink. Pencils don’t. If you notice an odd smell, sound, or sensation, pull over and make a note. Be as specific as possible. This will help a mechanic diagnose your car problem later.

3. Flashlight

How many horror movies have scenes where a woman breaks down on a creepy road without a streetlight in sight? *Shudder* Also, it’s hard to see your engine in the dark, so toss a flashlight in your backseat. Go ahead and put spare batteries in your glove compartment, too.

4. Latex gloves

Ladies: I know you’re afraid of breaking a nail when you pop open your hood. Wearing a pair of latex gloves makes this less likely. You’ll also keep your hands clean and prevent cuts or scrapes.

5. Blanket

If your battery dies on the coldest day of winter and you have to wait an hour for a tow truck to show up, how will you stay warm? The car heater won’t work. Keep a blanket and/or big coat in your backseat. For bonus points, toss in some gloves and a toboggan for your noggin.

6. Tip-ins

Tip-ins are like driver’s ed, except way better. They’re like a deck of playing cards, except they contain useful advice that can benefit drivers of any age. Click here to check out our full catalog. They might not bail you out of an emergency situation, but they will help you prevent them. 🙂

7. Snacks and water

I like to keep a bottle of water in my car at all times. Getting dehydrated is no good for your energy. You might want to keep some healthy snacks in your car, especially if you travel with kids regularly. There’s nothing worse than being hangry when you’re already mad, because your car broke down.

Assembling an emergency kit for your car is a smart thing to do. As you can see, it’s not that hard. Follow these suggestions to maximize your safety on the road. If you know a friend who might be helped by this content, go ahead and share it on social media.

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