An emergency situation could occur at any time while you're driving, so it's best to be prepared before anything happens. Good maintenance habits and preventative measures can help keep you from getting stranded. Periodically, you should check those parts of your car that are most likely to fail, including the tires, hoses, belts, headlights, and wipers, among other parts. Any unusual noise, leak, smell, handling problem, or anything else out of the ordinary should be checked out by a mechanic as soon as possible. It's a good idea to make sure your jack, spare, and tire-changing tools are in good working order. Also, you may want to put together an emergency tool kit to bring along in your vehicle. Some other items you may want to include in your trunk or toolbox are a gas can, jumper cables, aerosol flat fixer, and a flashlight. Your local mechanic or auto parts store may be able to provide further information on how to be prepared for automotive emergency situations.
