10 items you should always have in your car

Published on 8th March, 2018 at 01:34 pm

Do you drive around with half of your life in your car? In case of an emergency, ensure these 10 must-have items are within reach should you find yourself in a sticky situation while on the road.

Some people keep nothing in their boot while others keep their entire homes in their car. What do you need when your car breaks down?

Your driver’s licence

It seems pretty obvious but many people get caught driving without it. The fine for driving without one on South African roads is well over R1 000 under the current Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) legislation. Don’t get caught without it.

Your cellphone and charger

Go ahead and invest in that extra cellphone charger cable for your car. It’ll come in handy on the day you really need to make an emergency call and your battery is hanging on by a thread.

Spare wheels and tools

Your spare tyre is just as important as the other four wheels – always make sure you have one in your car and it’s in good condition. Remember to check your toolkit to see if you’ve got everything you need, especially if you regularly travel long distances.

Jumper cables

Every driver should keep jumper cables in their boot and be able to use them if the car stalls.

A tow rope

In the event of a mechanical failure or other (inexplicable) car trouble, having a tow rope is essential in helping you get off the road, out of harm’s way.

A torch

This is one of the most recommended items to have in your car in the event of an emergency, as it will help you to see in low-visibility conditions or at night.

A high-visibility vest

When your car has stalled, you need to get out of the vehicle. A high-visibility vest ensures that you are visible to other drivers using the road.

A first-aid kit

A first-aid kit is one of the most basic items everyone should have in their car. Make sure that it’s stocked with the essential items you will need in any event, and always remember to replenish items you may have used on previous occasions.

An emergency instant tyre inflate and repair kit

Changing a spare tyre can be quite a hassle. An emergency instant tyre inflate and repair kit can help spare you some of the stress of dealing with a flat tyre.

Emergency contact numbers of insurance company/police

South African emergency contact numbers to store on your phone are:

112: This is the common emergency number that can be dialled free of charge from any fixed or mobile telephone in order to reach emergency services (ambulance, fire and rescue, police) in numerous European countries, including all member states of the European Union, as well as  several other countries in the world, South Africa included.

10177: This number can be used in the case of a medical emergency and can be called in conjunction with both the fire and police department respectively, depending on whether or not there are casualties.