Excerpted from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Like most families, you'll do a lot of driving this summer -- trips to the lake, kid's baseball games and maybe even a family vacation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reminds us to keep our car maintained correctly and to pack an Emergency Roadside Kit for those special trips away from home.
Regular maintenance such as tune-ups, oil changes, battery checks, and tire rotations go a long way toward preventing breakdowns. If your vehicle has not been serviced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, schedule a preventive maintenance checkup with your mechanic right away.
Even a well-maintained vehicle can break down, so it’s advisable to put together an emergency roadside kit to carry with you. A cell phone tops the list of suggested emergency kit contents since it allows you to call for help when and where you need it. Suggested emergency roadside kit contents:
- Cell phone and car charger
- First aid kit
- Flashlight
- Flares and a white flag
- Jumper cables
- Tire pressure gauge
- Jack (and ground mat) for changing a tire
- Work gloves and a change of clothes
- Basic repair tools and some duct tape (for temporarily fixing a hose leak!)
- Water and paper towels for cleaning up
- Nonperishable food, drinking water, and medicines
- Extra windshield washer fluid
- Maps
- Emergency blankets, towels, and coats
Have a great summer and be safe during your travels.
For additional information on Summer Safety visit https://one.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa/tips/summer/index.html
