Safety first

Here are 10 essential bits of kit to keep in your car in case of an emergency. Don’t leave home without them!

July 2008

Car makers strive to make every new model that little bit safer. Crumple zones, airbags and electronic driver aids have all become commonplace, but you can still do things to make life on the road even safer.

Simply spending a few minutes doing basic safety checks – such as ensuring your lights are working and that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure – can make a huge difference. The chances are you haven’t adjusted the position of your seat since you bought your car, either; you should take the time to set it up correctly. This includes the headrest, the top of which should be as high as your head and then brought
as close to you as possible.

Seatbelts aren’t just a case of clunk click, either – check the belt is as tight as possible, and that it crosses your pelvic region, not your stomach, and doesn’t touch your neck.

But it’s not only about the car you drive and how you set it up; you should stash a number of other things in the boot for an emergency. The AA recommends drivers pack headache tablets, water, a compass, aftersun cream and, in winter, a blanket.

We’ve taken this further and listed our 10 safety products that are crucial for any journey.

Contacts
Blacks (Princeton Tec), 0800 665410, www.blacks.co.uk
Britax 01264 386034, www.britax.co.uk
goExtra (Goliath), 0870 744 8434, www.goextra.co.uk
Guardian 01603 787679, www.guardianfire.info
Halfords 0845 762 6625, www.halfords.com
Holts 0161 491 7391, www.holtsauto.com
Philip’s 020 7531 8400, www.philips-maps.co.uk
Speeding 0845 230 7071, www.speeding.co.uk
Victorinox 0116 234 4644, www.victorinox.com

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1. Britax Baby-Safe Sleeper

Price: £149.99
children under 12 or less than 135cm tall have to travel in a safety seat. This latest Britax offering is for babies, and carries them lying flat – the safest position.

2. Speeding GH-074 Triangle

Price: £10.99
Simply pop it up behind your car, and the warning triangle will help warn other motorists of your presence. This model won our Issue 879 test, and the pack includes a handy carry case.

3. Guardian Fire Extinguisher

Price: From £24.99
A blaze can take hold in four minutes. It’s unlikely the fire service will arrive that fast, so you need a car-mounted powder extinguisher – and a 1kg version like this is ideal.

4. Princeton Tec Apex

Price: £69.99
You need both hands free if you want to fix a problem fast. And this smart head torch delivers around 200 hours’ output from four AA batteries.

5. Holts Tyreweld

Price: £6.99
Special sealant fills your rubber. Tyreweld is a temporary repair, and you can’t exceed 30mph after using it, but it gets you out of danger on the roadside quickly.

6. Goliath Auto Power Jack

Price: £39.99
fast-working remote controlled jack plugs into your 12V socket, and can lift a family-sized car in seconds. Has a handy light for night-time use.

7. Halfords Large First Aid Kit

Price: £14.99
even if you don’t know how to use the contents, someone at a crash scene might – so stash one in your boot for that reason alone. Our reigning champ is packed with products.

8. Philip’s Driver’s Atlas

Price: £7.99
If you’re lost and need to get somewhere in a hurry, a map is a failsafe way to navigate. And this latest offering from Philip’s is a strong choice.

9. Victorinox Rescue Tool

Price: £59.95
features a one-handed seatbelt cutter, plus a windscreen breaker. And the bright colours make the Rescue Tool easy to find in an emergency.

10. Halfords Visibility Vest

Price: £4.99
You want to stand out on the hard shoulder – and this hi-vis vest has glossy reflective panels on the shoulders and stomach to ensure you’re seen.

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Safety first

Here are 10 essential bits of kit to keep in your car in case of an emergency. Don’t leave home without them!