Junk in the Trunk: Preparing for Winter Travel

 

I am a pretty big wimp when it comes to driving in winter weather, but I am in good company-at least here in Texas. In defense of my fellow Texans and me, we so rarely have winter weather that affects the roads here that when we do, it creates chaos. Listen, its sheets of ice we get here, people! Not your run of the mill slushy snow. Ice in Texas is seriously scary business- and inexperienced drivers are even scarier. With a lack of infrastructure to deal with ice, our random ice storm has the potential for stranded disaster. That means prepping the car for the possibility of a winter road disaster all while the skies are sunny and 60 degrees in December. (Yes, you may all be jealous, now.)

State Farm is spearheading an initiative to help all drivers-even the unlikely Texans-prepare their vehicles for the possibility of being stranded by a winter storm by asking us to consider what kind of junk is in the trunk. The junk in my trunk reads like layers of archeological dig with clues to the events of my past. Pieces of kids’ Halloween costumes are crumpled underneath a carry-on backpack stuffed with the toys from the last flight. I know there is a pair of peep toe vintage pumps cast aside in a frenzy to switch from charity lunch outfit to a take the kids to soccer outfit. I actually have jumper cables buried in somewhere in the bottom layer, but that is the extent of my preparedness to survive getting stranded in the winter. There might be a few Fun Size pieces of leftover candy, but after we split those five ways, we would be in trouble.

Using the suggestions from State Farm, I have been working on building a safer and more prepared trunk. Some of the suggestions include:

·        Folding shovel

·        Tow rope and tire chains

·        First Aid kit

·        Basic tool kit

·        Blankets and extra warm clothes for every member of the family

·        Water

·        Non-perishable food items

·        Windshield wiper fluid

·        Anti-freeze

·        Warning flares

·        Flashlight

·        Ice scraper and brush

·        Cellphone charger

Vintage peep-toes and Captain America’s shield, although fun, didn’t make my car any safer for my travels with my precious cargo. I do feel safer knowing that the junk in my trunk has an extra measure of safety now, although, if there is a winter storm in Texas this year, I’ll probably be hiding in my house wearing fuzzy socks and cursing the weatherman. As a bonus, when I cleaned out my trunk I did find two Fun Size Snickers and a full size Reese’s. I see no reason to share. 

Disclosure: I was compensated by State Farm to tell you about the sad state of my trunk. They did not require that I express a particular viewpoint, although they did help me feel safer and help me find chocolate in the process. That's a win-win.