When your car breaks down, it’s not only really disruptive to your day, it can be really hazardous. As we speak, MPs are debating whether to delay the introduction of all-lane smart motorways, the pilot of which has claimed the lives of 38 people between 2014-2019.
In the UK, the advice in a vehicle breakdown is to stick your car’s hazards on, call for assistance and—if the environment is safe enough—get everyone out of and away from the vehicle, using the doors away from any moving traffic.
It’s not fun to clamber over the passenger side at the best of time. But clamber over the crash barrier and standing on a grass verge is an unnerving prospect in the cold, dark and wet of winter on a motorway or country road, especially if you’re with children.
So here’s a comprehensive list of things to consider to prepare your car for each journey you make in the winter months, in case of emergency.
Utonomes Emergency Light, V16 Warning Signal and Flashlight
Price: £33.61 | VIEW OFFER
Road traffic accidents account for 13% of all deaths in the UK and 60% of those occur on country roads, terrifying statistics for anyone who has car trouble and needs to pull into the side of the road, but perhaps not so shocking, in an age of distracted driving, when we’ve all seen the car or truck in front swerve too close to the nearside white lines. Help increase the visibility of your broken down car, alerting other drivers more obviously while roadside recovery is on its way.
AA Vehicle Breakdown Safety Kit Plus
Price: £34.99 | VIEW OFFER
These handy little kits often contained bits and pieces of other items mentioned on this list, such as visibility devices and jump leads. They tend to come in compact little zipper bags that store neatly so you don’t even remember they’re in the car until a crisis hits.
Cocoon Travel Blanket CoolMax
Price: £31.31 | VIEW OFFER
In the wind, rain, fog and dark, the roadside can be very intimidating. Having a blanket or spare wind-proof, waterproof jacket in the car can feel like a high-five from Heaven. What’s more, if anyone’s been injured as a result of the breakdown, or collision, they may start to go into shock, meaning they’ll need some help to keep their body warm and avoid any further complications while you wait for help. There’s plenty of choice, from last season’s sofa snuggle to those single-use foil blankets that take up next to no boot space, whatever you pick, you’ll be grateful to yourself for such smart prep.
Pack of 4 Pocket Torches
Price: £13.99 | VIEW OFFER
Going to rely on your mobile phone torch, are you? Really, when your battery has 3% juice and you’re trying to make sure the roadside recovery can find you? It might be old-fashioned, but we’re not suggesting keeping candles and matches to hand. A small torch will help navigate any tricky terrain while you stay safe. Also, sometimes, those country roads are a total dead zone for mobile signal. If you need to leave the vehicle and go for help, it’d be wise to have you have a light to guide you.
Anker Power Bank, PowerCore Slim 10000 Portable Charger
Price: £22.99 | VIEW OFFER
To avoid that dreaded 3%, it’s worth keeping a charged power bank in your car for emergencies. Thankfully, there are some really practical innovations on the market, where a jump-starter pack will also double up as a laptop/phone charger. That means all you have to do is ensure it’s charged in case of emergency. Easier said than done, so we advised putting together a handy collection of spare charging cables too. Better safe than sorry, right?
Maynards Bassetts Mint Favourites Sweets
Price: £1.20 | VIEW OFFER
Breaking down is totally rubbish, but fictitious studies have shown looking forward to your dinner, only to break down after a long day at the office is enough to make the most reasonable motorist super hangry! Having a humbug, toffee chew or packet of crisps to munch on while you wait is typical fayre for the roadside-stranded motorist. What’s more, if the sweets are old enough, you can make a game of get-the-wrapper-off-the-sweetie-without-getting-sticky-fingers to entertain the kids while you wait.
AA Ultimate First Aid Kit
Price: £14.99 | VIEW OFFER
Though we’re not expecting any serious injuries in a breakdown, mild cuts and abrasions can happen, since the roadside verge isn’t the most pleasant or clean of places to hang out, so you need a first aid kit. Debris, such as glass and sharp metal, gets inadvertently (and sometimes very deliberately) discarded and chucked around by tyres every day. Much of it ends up in the gutter and isn’t immediately identifiable in the dark or wet conditions. Having the basics to hand will minimise the stress in an already stressful situation.
Salomon Speedcross 4 GTX Men’s Waterproof Trail Running Shoes
Price: £140 | VIEW OFFER
Being stranded in your best Jimmy Choos or box-fresh Yeezy’s is no laughing matter. Not least because mud, gravel, grass and rain aren’t going to do those babies any favours. It’s worth keeping a spare pair of old trainers you don’t care so much about, just in case you need to make a quick switch. On our advice, it’s time to treat yourself to a new pair, just so you can downgrade your current ones to spares!
Yakers Dog Chew Medium 2 pack
Like kids, dogs need food, water and entertainment. With more of us owning dogs than ever before, itu2019s possible pooch will be with you when the car decides to give up. By the roadside, some dogs can get more agitated without something to distract their attention away from the cacophony of the passing cars or the silence of an isolated country road. A few treats or one of those long-lasting chew bones will help you focus on what you need to do, while making pooch comfortable and secure in an unfamiliar environment.
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