Does Your Teen Driver Have a Winter Emergency Car Kit?
25 Dec 2018
While the best strategy for winter driving is to avoid it altogether, if your teen must go out and they get stuck in bad conditions once they’re already out on the road, being prepared could save their life.
Every vehicle should have a winter emergency car kit.
Anyone can experience a vehicle emergency. But, the last thing you want is for your teen to get stuck outside in the harsh winter elements. Temperatures dropping and chilly weather often brings snow, ice and freezing rain. While you may have experience driving on icy roads, your teen could be caught off guard by slick pavements and other winter challenges.
Winter weather could leave your teen stranded — they could slip off a snowy road, puncture a tire or run out of fuel. But having a well-stocked winter emergency kit can get them back on the road safely or at least keep them more comfortable and safer while they wait for assistance.
Many people don’t realize how easily their car can turn into their sanctuary when experiencing an unexpected event while driving. If you live in a low population area, getting stuck in a snowbank or a flat tire could leave your teen waiting for hours for assistance, particularly if they don’t have a cell phone on them. In these situations, a winter car emergency kit could just save their life.
What to Stock your Car Emergency Kit With
You can purchase a pre-packaged kit or make one. Ideally, if you make your own, you should store the items in a clear, plastic container where you can find things you need easily. If you make your own, here’s what you need:
Minimum Supplies
- Jumper cables
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Bottled water
- Snacks (protein bars, trail mix, dried fruit, peanut butter, etc.)
- First-aid kit (Band-Aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, medical wrap, adhesive tape, etc.)
- Reflective warning triangles or road flares
- Multi-tool (Swiss army knife, Leatherman tool, etc.)
- Gloves, hat, blankets
- Folding or collapsible snow shovel
- Ice scraper
- Hand warmers
- Winter boots
- Kitty litter or bag of sand
Other Essentials:
- Gloves, hand cleaner (baby wipes), rags
- Small fire extinguisher in case of car fire
- Rain poncho
- Spare tire and tire gauge for checking tire inflation pressure
- Lug wrench and jack to change tire
- Duct tape
- Paper maps
- Foam tire sealant for minor punctures in tires
- Box of matches and lighter
- Hand crank-powered or battery-powered radio
- Tow strap and tire chains
Last but certainly not least, your teen’s car should be equipped with a GPS tracking device for teens. This way you can locate your teen right away if they break down or become stranded while driving in wintry weather.
You should check the emergency kit every six months. Stock up before winter and replace expired items. Also, make sure the car has a full tank of gas and your teen has a cell phone is charged every time you get in the car and keep a cell phone charger in your car.
If you’re interested in getting a GPS tracking device for your teen driver, give us a call here at LiveViewGPS at 1-888-544-0494, and we can help you select the one that best suits your needs.
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