Another Central Pennsylvania winter is almost upon us – and that means driving in cold, snowy, icy conditions. You never know what might happen when you’re on the road, so it’s a good idea to prepare for the worst. Here is a list of items that all drivers should keep in their vehicle during those frigid winter months:
- Blanket – A heavy blanket might be the most important thing to keep in your car during winter, just in case you end up stuck in a snowbank or skid off the road into a ditch. It could be a while until help arrives, especially in the middle of a snowstorm.
- Food and water – If you’re stranded, you’ll want to have some non-perishable food on hand — such as crackers, beef jerky, granola bars, etc. — along with a gallon jug or two of water.
- Ice scraper – If you’ve ever walked out to your car after work on a snowy or icy day, you understand the importance of having an ice scraper – preferably one with a brush – in your car.
- Sand or kitty litter – Keeping a bag of sand or kitty litter in your vehicle will add weight and improve traction, and you can spread the contents under your tires to help you gain traction if you get stuck.
- Small shovel – There might be times when you need to dig yourself out of trouble, and a small shovel just might do the trick. You can also purchase a collapsible shovel that will take up less space in your vehicle.
- Flashlight – Getting stuck in your car during winter is bad enough, and it’s even worse at night. Keep a flashlight in your car — a good idea throughout the year — along with some spare batteries.
- Jumper cables – Cold weather wreaks havoc on car batteries. That good Samaritan who stops to help you might have the best of intentions, but it won’t do much good if you have a dead battery and neither of you has a set of jumper cables!
- Phone charger – You won’t be able to call for help if your phone isn’t working, so keep a phone charger that’s designed to plug into a cigarette lighter inside your vehicle. Another option is to purchase a cheap disposable phone as a backup and keep it wrapped in a blanket.
- Flares – Road flares can make you more visible to rescuers, especially at night.
Make Sure Your Auto Policy Coverage Protects You Best
The start of winter is also a good time for an auto insurance checkup to make sure you’re covered in the event of one of those weather-related fender benders – or something worse. Reisinger Insurance Agency, Inc. is a family-owned and operated insurance provider that has been proudly serving Perry County and beyond since 1955. Contact us to schedule a free policy review today.
