The power of technology has enabled us a service center at the press of a button…or dial of a number! All major car manufacturers and insurance providers in India allows the option of 24X7 customer care – on-road repair service, towing to nearest garage, fixing a flat, emergency fuel assistance, lost key assistance,…
That, of course, is true in principle. In practice, the ground reality is that you could be stuck for than 12-hrs awaiting your emergency fuel or that repair service vehicle to reach you.
There are also instances such as this where you may have no time to react and will be left at the mercy of only two things – your wits and your emergency preparedness. Quite a few vehicles have been catching these “mysterious” fires these days. Car safety in India is more of a joke where the collusion of policy-makers and auto-manufacturers leave only the customers as losers.
To that end, we have to ensure we do everything we can possible on our end to maintain our safety and security and of those around us. Being well equipped for various emergencies on India roads can be accomplished to large extent with the help of the following –
(Will fill in more details on where I purchased what. Most of them I got state-side, but I am sure I can find the links. Will post them when I can…)
1) Emergency Glass Breaker: Something like this pen glass breaker is very handy when you don’t have enough legroom to allow for large swing of the arm. This tool will be handy not just in your car but also in buses and trains.
2) Car Fire Extinguisher:
3) Multipurpose Tool: One of those Swiss-Army Knife or the Leatherman Tools
4) Tire Flat-Repair Kit:
5) Jumper Cable:
6) Flashlight with Extra Batteries (the smartphone flashlight is better left untouched):
7) Extra Fuses and Tire Pressure Gauge:
7) Umbrella and Rain Poncho:
8) Fully Charged Phone, Car Phone-Charger, and Possibly a Power Bank:
9) Reflective Warning Triangles: [I’ve seen people use tree branches and twigs as a work-around!].
10) Sanitary Related: Extra Gloves, Toilet Tissues, Soap Bar/Gel/Papers, Extra Old Newpapers,…
11) Edibles: Chocolate and energy bars, water, dry-fruits, biscuits and cookies,
12) Handy First-Aid Kit:
13) A Few Extras – Whistle, Self-Defense Items (Stick, Pepper-spray, gun,…), Extra change clothes, warm clothes, blanket, footwear,