The 15 essential items to have in a roadside safety kit.

There are very few statements that are almost universally true, but here is one. It’s always better to have something and not need it, than it is to need something and not have it.

This especially applies to your car. It is a good idea to have the supplies on hand in your vehicle that you might need in an emergency situation. Not too long ago, it was routine for drivers to keep a roadside safety kit in their car. However, with the increased pervasiveness of cell phones, GPS, and roadside assistance, these have become less common in recent years.

With access to help only the touch of a button away, it is perhaps not surprising that these former staples of car safety have fallen by the wayside. Even with the variety of modern safety options available, it is still a smart idea to have a roadside emergency kit in your car.

Cellphone batteries sometimes die, or you could find yourself stranded in an area with no cell service. Whether you buy a pre-assembled kit or create your own, it should include a few essentials that you might need to keep yourself and your family safe until help can arrive.

So, with that in mind, here is a short list of the indispensable items that would be most useful to have on hand in emergency situations.

The 15 roadside safety kit essentials.

• Emergency blankets
• Warm clothing (hat, gloves, boots)
• Flashlight with back up batteries
• Ice scraper
• Collapsible shovel
• First Aid kit (bandages, instant ice and heat packs, scissors, aspirin, gauze, adhesive tape, antiseptic cream, first aid instructions)
• Jumper cables
• Multi purpose tool, or any of the following; a flat head screwdriver, pliers, vise grips, adjustable wrench, lug nut wrench or tire iron
• Working jack
• Anti-freeze
• Spare tire
• Tire inflator & tire pressure gauge
• Electrical tape
• Rags
• Bottled water and energy bars

For those with limited space or small trunks there are a number of compact safety kits available on the market, including CAA’s Road Hazard Survival Kits which can be purchased at CAA retail locations.

For the greatest peace of mind, consider combining the best of both worlds. Have a traditional car safety kit with everything you need to help keep your family safe, and sign up for CAA Roadside Assistance which will provide you and your car with the assistance and care that even the best-packed safety kit can’t provide.