You see that car sitting on the side of the road on a cold winter night. There’s a good chance, whatever caused that car to pull over it wasn’t something the driver planned for. No one plans for their car to breakdown, especially not in the middle of winter. But, if it happens, the trick is to have a plan.

If you have a plan for such an occasion, you’ll know what to do. You’ll be prepared. Preparation means having the knowledge and implements to deal with such a situation. A plan is especially essential when temperatures dip dangerously low.

The first part of a plan is to have an emergency kit in your car. Unlike an emergency medical kit, which isn’t a bad idea either, your roadside, winter emergency kit should include the following:

• One or more blankets
• Gloves, hat, boots, scarf and dry socks
• A small snow shovel
• A flashlight with fresh batteries
• Emergency reflectors
• A charged cell phone
• Jumper cables
• A bottle of water

If you have these items in your car, when trouble strikes and you unwillingly pull your car to the side of a cold, snowy and windswept road, you’ll be in relatively good shape. Without these items, you could experience a degree of discomfort and even danger.

It’s also a good idea to check your spare tire and your car jack. A flat tire is inconvenient enough when you have a spare and the ability to change the tire. It takes on a whole new complexion when you don’t.

What else can you do to provide a little roadside security in the winter? One thing you can do is to let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to arrive. If no one is expecting you, no one will know that you’re late. To take this idea one step further, you can let folks know which route you’ll drive so they know where to go to look for you.

Finally, make sure your vehicle is in optimal driving condition. A car that is well maintained is far less likely to breakdown. That should include winterizing your vehicle. Winterizing your car includes:

• Changing the oil
• Checking the antifreeze/coolant and cooling system
• Checking the charging system (battery, charger, starter)
• Having your car tuned up if necessary

Hopefully, you won’t have any trouble this winter. If you need help preparing your car, you can call Performance Unlimited at 815-728-0343 for help.