How to Change Your Car Karma From Bad to Good!

Every woman who drives should carry an emergency kit tucked away in the trunk of her car. It takes very little to put one together, and it just might save you from a lot of trouble. My friend Dorsey who lives in Chicago where the winters can be absolutely treacherous, has a fear of being stranded and helpless in a car that has broken down. She has shared this concern many times over the course of our friendship, she calls her anxiety “bad car karma.” The translation is that it’s the woman’s equivalent of murphy’s law for automobiles. No one ever leaves her home expecting to get stranded in her car. But I’ll tell you this, it’s a fear of most every woman I know, of being broken down somewhere on the road, isolated or miles away from help. So we should empower ourselves and be prepared for “bad car karma” when it shows up! Having an emergency car kit on hand is a great way to start. If by chance you should get stuck somewhere, you will be so glad that you planned ahead. I started the practice years ago of packing an emergency car kit whenever I would take a road trip. Later I realized, that wow, this is something that I should be doing not only for road trips, but also for everyday travel as well.

Now, I know a great deal about auto repair, and I have on occasion had my car break down on the side of the road. It’s not the best feeling, but I’ve never been worried about making a repair. My biggest concern has always been the ill intentions of others who may be passing by and see me stranded on the side of the road. I know this is a subject that no one likes to think about, but unfortunately it’s a reality if you’re a woman.

Don’t become a victim of your circumstances. Instead, prepare yourself and you will always travel with confidence, despite the possibility of bad weather or a car breaking down, or some sort of natural disaster. Also, I never solicit help or accept help from men passing by who stop to offer assistance. When a stranger does stop, I NEVER roll down the window or step out of the car. I simply ask them to contact the police, and then thank them for doing so. Most men will understand why a woman would do this, as they probably have a mom, a sister or a wife at home. While in reality it’s probably safe most of the time to accept help from a stranger, there’s just no way to know if the person who is stopping to help is really stopping to help.

The items I’m listing below could help you if you find yourself stranded in an isolated area, especially if you are out of cell phone reach or don’t have a cell phone. This is what I keep in my own emergency car kit, and is what we at See Jane Drill recommend for every woman:

Emergency Car Kit

For a container for the kit itself, something watertight is preferable, such as a plastic tub with a lid, to keep your kit dry and everything together in one place.

Flashlight with batteries which are charged
Duct Tape, which is handy for making a quick, temporary repair to a ruptured radiator hose. Plus it has countless other uses which are limited only to your resourcefulness and imagination
First Aid Kit, which can be personalized if you have health concerns such as allergies or diabetes, and it wouldn’t hurt to keep medicines in there as well.
Bottled Water
Peanuts or something else with protein and a long shelf life. Check out www.eatbydate.com, a neat site that tells you the shelf life of common foods.
Matches or Lighter
Rag
Plastic Garbage Bag, which is more valuable than a tarp, as it not only serves as a vapor barrier when making a repair from the ground, but can also be worn as a rain poncho, used as insulation in boots or shoes, or can be a tool for water collection if needed.
Blanket
Jacket or Shirt
Paper and Marker or Pen
Ratchet Set, which is a valuable tool to have during emergencies because car parts generally have nuts and bolts, and if you are knowledgeable enough to make your own repair you’ll be glad you included this tool in your emergency kit.
Rope
Pliers
Fix-a-flat, because if you have a flat tire with a screw or nail in the tread of your tire, a can of fix-flat can inflate your tire enough so that you can drive to the nearest service station.
Multi-Hand Tool, which are great in emergencies because they have many tools in one, such as phillips and flathead screwdrivers, needle nose pliers, pocket knife, pick tool, file, etc. Some even come with scissors.
Jumper Cables are a must-have for your emergency car kit because sometimes all you need is a jump and the person who comes to assist you may not own a pair. Don’t rely on others to be prepared for you! Have cables and know how to use them.