No matter if it's summer, winter or sometime in between, drivers should be prepared for emergencies.
AAA Auto Club rescues about 7 million American drivers each summer, according to company statistics, yet 40 percent of motorists say they travel with no emergency kit.
AAA officials and local mechanics suggest these Top 10 supplies for preventing or minimizing roadside problems.
If you're planning any Labor Day weekend traveling, consider these tips essential reading.
1. Tire gauge
"I focus on the tire gauge because your tire is literally what meets the road," says Megan Cooper, public affairs specialist for AAA Auto Group of Tennessee.
The majority of AAA road rescues arise because of bad batteries, lockouts and tire-related issues, she says.
A lot of people in newer cars have a tire-pressure monitoring system, and they think they never need to check their tires. But Cooper suggests checking tires once a month. Monitoring systems don't go off until tires are at least 25 percent low, she says. Driving with underinflated or overinflated tires could lead to blowouts and poor fuel efficiency, she says.
A spare tire comes with cars but if you've already used yours, make sure you replace it, says Aaron Smith, of S&S Auto Repair on Airpark Drive.
2. Knife
"It's always good to have a knife in your car in case your seatbelt gets stuck. If you get trapped or stuck, you can cut yourself out," says Jason Wolfe, shop foreman at Dunson's Auto Repair on East 23rd Street.
Some knives come with glass breakers at the end of their handles that will allow drivers to clear excess glass if they are unable to open their door. Knives can aid in roadside repairs and may be handy for self-defense, according to the website coastportland.com.
3. Blanket
A car blanket can warm a driver if his car breaks down when it's cold, says Wolfe. And a bright fabric provides better visibility for rescue teams, says Smith.
Smith recently contemplated car emergency items after considering what he wanted his teenage children to have as they traveled. He says he's especially concerned about his daughter who travels through remote areas back and forth to Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee, so his suggestions are what he thinks should be in an emergency kit for her.
4. Magnetic flashlight
Those are crucial, says Smith.
Go with an LED light versus a bulb. The LED light lasts longer and it's brighter. There are lights with magnets on the back, and the magnetic surface allows a driver to attach the light to the hood of the car so it's easier to see when making repairs underneath the hood, he says.
5. A liter of water
There are two reasons for a liter of water, Smith says. One, if you become stuck in a remote area, you have something to drink. It's best to carry water sealed by the manufacturer or bottler because that keeps contaminants low. And two, if the car has a coolant leak, you can pour water into the reservoir or radiator and that will allow time to get to a place for coolant or repairs.
6. Duct tape
"Everybody can use duct tape for multiple reasons," says Smith, listing several car-related uses.
If your window falls down and you can't secure it up in any other way, you can duct-tape it.
If you have a hose that has a leak and you're losing antifreeze, you can duct-tape it.
If you run over something and your fender is halfway between attached and falling off, you can duct-tape it.
7. Multi-tool set
Smith recommends a 38-piece stubby tool set that includes sockets, wrenches and screwdrivers.
"These tools don't have long handles. They'll fit in a woman's hands as easy as a man's, but if you are in a tight space, you don't have to worry about getting in there. A lot of tools we use in the shop are big and bulky. This is a compact tool set," he says. "If you need to remove something, take something off or put something in, you can do that with a socket set."
8. A phone charger
The charger should remain in the car at all times.
9. First-aid kit
Drivers should do their best to be prepared for medical emergencies, according to the American Red Cross. Emergency services sometimes spread thin during winter storms and major disasters.
10. Jumper cables
It will probably be one of the most often used tools in your car kit, according to the website digitaltrends.com.
Contact Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.