Should I Keep Safety Tools in My Vehicle?
May 14, 2022
Current-production vehicles come equipped with many great safety features. From seat belts to blind-spot monitoring and automatic braking, vehicles are safer than ever and getting better all the time. With great safety equipment included in most vehicles, you might wonder whether you should keep additional safety tools in your vehicle. The answer is an emphatic yes.
The active and passive safety features in cars work great while you are on the road. However, after a breakdown or a car accident, you might need additional equipment.
Additional safety tools might be convenient, even lifesaving. The following are some of the best safety tools to consider keeping in your trunk or the passenger cabin.
Emergency Auto Hammer and Seat Belt Cutter
If a collision traps you inside of your car, the doors and windows might not work. You might have an injured arm that makes it nearly impossible to get out. An emergency auto hammer and seat belt cutter tool literally could be a lifesaver.
The seat belt cutter enables you to cut yourself free of the seat belts. It also could help you to free one or more passengers who might be incapacitated. Also, the hammer can make quick work of the shatterproof glass used in modern vehicles. The tool just might help to save your life and that of any passengers.
Fire Extinguisher
Vehicles occasionally catch fire. An accident, leaking fuel line, faulty electrical system, or other problem might cause your car to catch fire while you are driving. A fire extinguisher could help you to put out a fire in the engine bay or inside the cabin.
It is important to note that if there is a fire in the engine bay, you should not open the hood. Doing that would allow more oxygen to reach the fire and make it worse. You should spray up into the engine compartment from under the front of the car whenever possible.
First Aid Kit
A first aid kit always is a good thing to have inside the cabin of your vehicle. It could help to stop any bleeding after an accident. You could use it to help create a sling for a broken arm, reinforce a sprained ankle, or help to treat a cut or burn.
A first aid kit helps to lessen the potential personal injury that you or your passengers might suffer. A folding aluminum cane would complement the first aid kit and possibly help you to move around immediately after an accident.
Air Pressure Gauge, Compressor, and Tire Repair Kit
You should keep an air pressure gauge in the glove box or another location inside the passenger cabin. Ideally, you will use it at least weekly to check the air pressure in your tires. If one or more tires are low on air, a portable air compressor could inflate it to the proper level.
A portable air compressor could use the cigarette lighter port to power the compressor. The compressor will fill the tire slower than when using an air hose at a gas station. However, it will do the job. Then you can store it in the trunk or under a passenger seat for future use.
You might have a tire that suffers a puncture from a road hazard. A tire repair kit could help you to plug the hole and reinflate the tire with your portable compressor. If you do not have a tire plug kit, you could try using a can of tire sealant that helps to seal minor punctures.
Jumper Cables, Battery Jumper, and a Tow Strap
Dead batteries happen. You might wake up on a cold morning and learn that your battery gave out during the night. You might leave the lights on by accident while shopping and your car will not turn over. A pair of jumper cables can help you to get a quick jump start from a nearby vehicle.
Even better than jumper cables is a battery jumper that stores a charge. A portable jumper can fit in the trunk of most vehicles or the back of an SUV. If you need to jumpstart your car and no one is around to help, the battery jumper will take care of it for you.
If you drive in wintry weather or through mud or sand, you might get stuck. Your drive wheels are spinning because they cannot gain traction. A tow strap is a great tool for enabling you to get unstuck. It requires another vehicle that can help to pull your vehicle gently while you are trying to drive out.
Road Flares and Caution Triangles
You might find yourself stopped on the shoulder or side of the road because of a flat tire or a mechanical problem. The more traffic that passes by, the more dangerous your situation could become. Also, if you need to change a tire on the same side as the road, that could be extremely risky.
Road flares and caution triangles enable other motorists to see you from a distance and accordingly adjust their speed and direction of travel. Both items stow away easily and are highly visible at any time of the day or night. They literally could save your life.
Cellphone Charger, Battery-Powered Lantern, or Flashlight
A cellphone is a great tool for contacting someone for help if you are stranded for any reason. You might have road service included with your auto insurance. But you need a working phone to call for help.
If your cellphone has a low battery, it might become a liability. A handy cellphone charger could give your phone the power needed to call for help. It also will enable you to stay in contact until the help arrives.
If you are stranded at night and need to change a tire, jump the battery, or do something else, you need to see clearly. A battery-powered lantern or a flashlight can provide you with plenty of light.
A lantern is bulkier than a flashlight, but it could make you more visible at night. In addition, a flashlight that has a metal case and uses four D-cell batteries can double as a self-defense weapon.
Spare Bulbs for Turn Signals, Brake Lights, and Taillights
It is easy to unknowingly drive a vehicle that has a taillight, brake light, or a turn signal that does not work. You might notice a sudden change in flashing speed when one turn signal is out. However, a burned-out brake lightbulb is much harder to detect. The same is true for a taillight.
You can check the turn signals and taillights by standing outside the vehicle with the respective lights and signals turned on. Checking the brake lights requires having a surface that will reflect the lights sufficiently to show they are working. A lightly colored wall could do the job. You also could check the reflection off a vehicle that is behind you while you are stopped.
Spare bulbs for turn signals, brake lights, and taillights often are very affordable. They take up only a little space and are easy to carry. You could tuck a spare bulb or two in the glove box, trunk, or inside a toolbox that you keep with your vehicle. If a light is out, you could fix it right away.
Baltimore Car Wreck Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Help Clients after an Accident
Wise motorists take precautions to stay safe on the road, including having emergency equipment handy. However, accidents still do happen. The Baltimore car wreck lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton will be your advocate to obtain full and fair compensation to help you pay for your injuries and other damages. Call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
We have offices in Baltimore, Glen Burnie, and Prince George’s County, where we represent clients throughout Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Parkville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.