5 Essentials for Your Car This Winter

Winter’s coming! That means snowy and icy roads (at least in Michigan anyway!). Having the right things in your car for roadside emergencies could mean the difference between life and death, or at the very least, keeping you a little more comfortable during a miserable few hours on the side of the road. Here are five essentials to keep in your car this winter:

1.       Ice scraper/brush. This one’s a no brainer but I still see people scraping their windshields with a credit card, or driving around town looking through a tiny “port hole” they’ve cleared from their windshield.

2.       Snow shovel. You never know when you might slide right off the road and into a snowy ditch or snow bank. You can buy a shovel that actually folds up so it doesn’t take up that much room in your trunk.

3.       Kitty litter. Sounds strange but kitty litter is a great thing to have on hand when you’re stuck and need some traction under your tires. It is also good for putting a little weight in the back for those of you with rear wheel drive.

4.       Drinking water and emergency snacks. Hopefully you will never be stuck so long that you will need these provisions but, just in case, keep a couple bottles of water and some protein energy bars in your car. You never know if there will be a pile up on the freeway and you’ll be sitting in your car for hours until the accident clears.

5.       Warm blanket. If, for some reason you can’t run your car’s heater, it’s nice to know you have a blanket in your trunk. Even in the summer it’s nice to have one for picnics, outdoor concerts, or the beach.

These are pretty much common sense items but all too often we find ourselves in situations in which we could have been better prepared. It's supposed to be 60 degrees this weekend in southeast Michigan but who knows what Monday will bring! No time like the present!