All helpful things to keep in your vehicle to make your life a little easier

1. Jump cables

Flat battery after accidentally leaving a light on all night? You’ll need a jump start to recharge your car battery. Now your only problem is finding another battery to bump it off…

2. Tyre foam

Flat tyre? No spare? This will be able to help you get back home by sealing any punctures. Simply spray the foam into the tyre and drive it slowly to a repair centre.

3. First aid kit

Hopefully you won’t ever need to use this one, but just having it onboard will give you peace of mind.

4. Wipes

These are ideal for quick wipe downs for spills, mud marks, dust, bug smears and whatever life or your muddy dog throws at you.

5. Portable power bank + charging cables

Extremely handy in case of emergency or if you’re heading out without a full battery. You can even get a solar powered one on the rare occasion (read: day) when we get sun in the UK.

6. Screen wash

Important to keep your screen wash reservoir topped up, for an obvious reason. That reason being… you need to actually see where you’re going.

7. Pen + paper

Going to be five minutes and leaving a note? Got a phone call and need to take down some info? Had an accident and need to take details?

This will come in very handy for taking quick notes.

8. Small toolkit

Carrying a basic toolkit in your boot in case of emergency can come in very handy.

9. De-icer

Save yourself some time in cold winters with frozen windscreens by using the spray in a can to quickly melt your windscreen.

10. Travel sweets

The most essential of car essentials.

Use these tips for safe driving in snow and other winter weather.

Winter driving is dangerous and can be terrifying, even for well-seasoned motorists. The American Automobile Association’s (AAA) Foundation for Traffic Safety says snow-covered roads – as well as roads coated with ice, slush or water – account for nearly 500,000 vehicle crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths each winter.

“When we hit the winter months, especially as we enter the holiday season, we are in a rush. There is holiday shopping, there are places to go. You start to see an increase in people becoming more erratic in their driving behavior because they are in a rush for the holidays. You throw snow and ice on top of it, and it becomes a potential disaster,” said Dave Phillips, senior public affairs specialist at State Farm Insurance.

Tips for Safe Winter Driving in Snow

1.Stay Home

If the weather is bad, stay home. Only go out if necessary.

2.Remove Snow and Ice

Before you clear off the windows, start the car, set the airflow to defrost, the fan speed to maximum and the temperature to high. The goal is for the driver to have an unobstructed view in all directions.

Carry a brush to remove snow on the vehicle’s roof, hood, trunk lid, and all windows before driving. Use a scraper or a credit card if necessary, to remove ice on the car windows and mirrors.

Also, make sure the inside window glass is clean in all directions. It can take longer to defrost ice and snow if the rear glass is dirty. Also, check to see if the rear-window defroster is working. Be careful when cleaning the glass to avoid damaging the defroster wires.

3.Decrease Speed

Winter driving is all about slowing down, giving yourself plenty of distance between vehicles in front and to the side of your vehicle. Lower your speed to account for poorer traction. A vehicle’s tires will slide on snow and ice, so gently press down on the brake pedal to stop. Your tires will spin when accelerating, so gently press down on the accelerator to go. Remember, bridges and overpasses freeze first.

4.Minimize Distractions

There are always distractions that come into play as part of everyday driving – the temptation to speak on the cell phone, turn on a podcast, or anything else.

“You really need to focus your attention more so on what is going on out that windshield when the weather is bad,” Phillips said. The risk of an accident greatly increases when snow and ice cover the street. “You have to be more cautious and vigilant. You also have to be aware of everybody else out there on the road in front of you and peripherally, people who may not be practicing the same (safe) driving principles you are using.”

5.Use AWD and 4WD

Driving in snow, sleet and ice can be helped with all-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive. But, it’s no panacea for safe driving habits. Learn the difference between AWD and 4WD.

Phillips describes the misguided belief of it this way:

“You can get a false sense of security thinking that because I have a 4WD (or AWD) vehicle I am safer. I have extra traction and extra traction is implied as extra safety,” Phillips said. “Hence I am going to speed, or I am not going to pay as close attention as I would in a sedan that doesn’t have those features.”

What those drivers fail to realize is that their SUV’s steering, braking, cornering and general maneuverability on snow, slush and ice are helped by AWD and 4WD. However, no matter what type of vehicle you’re driving, simply, slow down.

6.Keep a Full Tank of Gas

Fill up your gas tank ahead of the storm and keep it full. You don’t want to run out of gasoline if you end up stuck for hours in bumper-to-bumper traffic during a snowstorm, sleet or ice storm. When the tank gets half empty, fill it up.

7.Invest in Sand

You probably will get stuck in the snow this winter. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep a bag of sand or kitty litter in the car. Place sand or kitty litter under the drive wheels if you get stuck. Straighten the wheels and accelerate slowly.

Do not spin the tires because you likely will dig deeper into the snow, making it more difficult to move on.

8.School Your Teen Drivers on Driving in Snow

There may be a few exceptions, but probably close to 100 percent of us learned the basics of driving on dry pavement. To prepare teens for winter driving, take them to a parking lot that is covered with snow to demonstrate braking, steering, accelerating and decelerating. Do this before the driver hits the slippery streets on their own, Phillips said.

9.Respect Snowplows

Snowplow drivers focus on clearing roadways. At the same time, the snowplow driver may be on the radio getting instructions from a superintendent. As a result, it could be that peripheral vision gets obstructed by the flying snow and the truck’s big snowplow. The driver may not see your vehicle. ‘You need to be very cognizant of what they are doing,” Phillips said.

In addition, watch out when driving next to a snowplow on a major roadway. The snow that flies off the sides of the plow can hit your windshield making it difficult to see the road. To be safe, keep a distance from any snowplow on the road.

10.Watch for Deer

Keep an eye out for changing weather conditions and deer. November is the No. 1 month for vehicle collisions with deer, followed by October and December. “The erratic behavior of deer, unfortunately, is happening during the snow season,” Phillips said.

11.Be on the Lookout for Black Ice

The pavement looks wet but it is actually ice-covered. Black ice is the term used to describe this condition. During the day the ice and snow may thaw, but as the temperature drops in late afternoon or evening, the water may turn to ice on the roadway. “Pay attention to changing temperature conditions,” Phillips said.

Many vehicles post the outside temperature on the instrument panel display or elsewhere in the vehicle – as it gets close to or below freezing, beware.

12.Don’t Use Cruise Control

Resist the urge to use cruise control when driving in snow, ice or slush. The road may be wet, but there still might be black ice or unplowed snow ahead.

These conditions could result in losing control of the vehicle when driving on cruise control because the system may not react as quickly as you can if you feel a loss in traction.

13.Invest in New Wiper Blades

Safety first! Streaky and dull wiper blades need to be replaced. Your vision through the windshield will look better only when wiper blades get replaced. Want to find out the cost to replace your wiper blades? Check out our maintenance and repair pricing tool and Service and Repair guide to help you price out new wiper blades.

14.Fill Up Windshield Washer Fluid

Frequently check the windshield fluid. Use a liquid that does not freeze and keep a gallon of the fluid in the vehicle. This will help keep you safe if you run out. Always keep an extra gallon in the car during winter.

15.Clean Headlights, Taillights

Lights can get quickly covered with snow, ice, and slush. Use a rag, tissue, paper towel or a newspaper to clean each light. As a driver, you want to see as far as possible ahead and you want drivers to see you, too.

A headlight’s or taillight’s visibility can be reduced by over 50 percent if the lights are covered with winter grime. Keep extra dry rags in the car for this purpose.

16.Check Tire Pressure and Tread

Check tires monthly to determine that each tire is properly inflated and that each has a sufficient amount of tread. If the tread looks worn down, replace your tires. That’s where your local automotive dealership service department or tire retailer comes in, supplying you with the same Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) tires that your vehicle was wearing when it first rolled off the assembly line.

“You are going to see a diminished performance in traction (and) the stopping distance will take longer” if there is very little tread remaining on the tires, said David Bennett, manager of AAA’s repair systems. “As you get into the ice and snow, you want to make sure that you have good traction, and that starts with your tires.”

17.Inspect the Spare Tire

Don’t be caught this winter with a flat spare tire. Check the air pressure on a monthly basis and carry a portable air compressor.

18.Keep Your Tire Repair Kit Current

Some automakers have replaced the spare tire with a tire repair kit. The kit consists of a small compressor, hose and a bottle of thick, sticky sealant that is forced through the valve into the tire. AAA recommends checking the kit’s expiration date and replacing it when necessary. Some kits should be replaced every four years.

19.Don’t Block the Radiator with Cardboard

AAA’s Bennett says, don’t do it. Some drivers in the Snowbelt regions place a large piece of cardboard in front of the vehicle’s radiator. The purpose is to increase the temperature of the coolant flowing through the engine and radiator. This, in turn, increases the temperature of the air flowing through the heat exchanger, giving passengers a toasty environment.

“That is not a great idea because (cardboard) prevents airflow from coming across the radiator, which could cause the engine to overheat,” Bennett said.

If the driver forgets to remove the cardboard when the outside temperature rises above freezing, there could be serious, expensive engine damage, leaving you stranded on the highway.

20.Carry Emergency Supplies

Plan for the unexpected. Pack non-perishable food, bottled water, blankets, a flashlight, cellphone, cellphone battery, first-aid kit, air compressor, tire-pressure gauge, a small shovel, jumper cables, extra jacket, boots, gloves, and your prescription drugs.

As above, a bag of kitty litter or sand that can be used for traction under a tire is also a good idea. It might also come in handy to keep a bag of environmentally-friendly ice melt in the car.

We look forward to the new year and a return to travel. Here are the tips you need to have safe, seamless, and memorable vacations in 2022.

In the new year, approach travel with a sense of wonder, better preparation, and fresh eyes with our expert travel tips for 2022. We wish you safe and joyous journeys!

1. Try a New Destination

Make this year the year you branch out from your tried-and-true vacation spots and visit a new destination. Open your eyes to new adventures and ignite your senses with new sights. Alternatively, if you’ve never been a repeat visitor, try returning to one destination a second time around to dive in even deeper.

2. Obtain an Easy COVID Test

If your destination requires a negative COVID test or you’d like greater peace of mind when visiting loved ones, Vault Medical provides convenient and pain-free at-home saliva tests with fast results.

All our travel plans were put to a disappointing halt after Coronavirus wreaked havoc across the globe. But now with the Covid-19 pandemic gradually ebbing and travel restrictions easing around the world, travellers are all set to finally pack their bags and go out to explore again.

But if you are confused about where to travel in 2022, look no further as National Geographic has curated a list of 25 exciting destinations that will satiate your wanderlust in the coming year. Spread across five categories — nature, adventure, culture, sustainability and family — the list promises to offer some unforgettable and diverse travel experiences.

“This year’s list celebrates a number of World Heritage sites in honour of UNESCO’s 50 years of helping to safeguard cultural and natural treasures,” National Geographic said.

*Jingmai Mountain, Yunnan, China
*Tin Pan Alley, London
*Hokkaido, Japan
*Procida, Italy
*Atlanta, Georgia
*Ruhr Valley, Germany
*Parque Nacional Yasuni, Ecuador
*Lódz, Poland
*National Columbia Gorge Scenic Area, Oregon/Washington
*Chimanimani National Park, Mozambique
*Caprivi Strip, Namibia
*Northern Minnesota
*Lake Baikal, Russia
*Belize Maya Forest Reserve
*Victoria, Australia
*Seine River Bike Trail, France
*Costa Rica
*Nepisiguit Mi’gmaq Trail, New Brunswick, Canada
*Palau
*Arapahoe Basin, Colorado
*Danube River Cruise
*Lycia, Turkey
*Granada, Spain
*Bonaire
*Eastern Shore, Maryland