Safety First: Know What You Need, Before You Need It

Be prepared is more than just the Boy Scout motto--it's a way of life. It seems that however well we prepare for the unexpected, there's always something we can't anticipate, especially on the road. Tires go flat, batteries die, accidents occur, and the list of sudden emergencies, large and small, goes on and on.

It's not a bad idea to have an onboard safety kit containing items from first-aid kits to flares to pantyhose. It's a proven fact that pantyhose can be used as a fan-belt substitute. This buyer's guide will highlight some products that can give you peace of mind, whether traveling in town or across the state.

Overlooking things like windshield wiper blades, tires, alignment, and the overall condition of your vehicle is tempting fate. It's important to check the running condition of your truck or SUV at least four times a year. For more information on the subject, contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles or Automobile Association of America office for checklists and guidelines for keeping your vehicle safe. Flats Made Easy
It's never fun to fix a flat, and lug nuts that won't budge make changing a tire frustrating. WWT has the solution with its EZ-Lug. Weighing just 3.0 pounds, the EZ-Lug reduces the force ratio to 32:1, making lug-nut removal much easier. The unit comes with a set of extension--17-, 19-, and 21mm--sockets, making it useful for most vehicles. WWT Group; 804/648-1900.
www.nocord.com   |   163 0312 Safety02 Z Carbon Monoxide Sniffer
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas, and prolonged exposure can be fatal. Costar offers a way to make certain your truck, SUV, or RV is carbon monoxide-free with its Carbon Monoxide Alarms. Able to sniff out the fumes from emissions or fuel-burning appliances often found in RVs, the unit uses a microcontroller to sound a 75-decibel alarm when carbon monoxide is present. Costar; 800/432-5599.
www.qginc.com   |   163 0312 Safety04 Z Beyond Dome Lights
When a dome light is too much, a plug-in map light can be just right. Bell Automotive Products is one of a handful of manufacturers producing such illuminating ideas. This one features a flexible neck, 12-volt plug for cigarette lighters, and soft-but-effective lighting. This light is an excellent way for a navigator to read maps without blinding the driver at night. Bell Automotive Products; 515/276-1066.
www.bellautomotive.com   |   163 0312 Safety06 Z Bridge Jumping to Holding Cargo
A set of bungee cords in your truck or SUV makes it easy to secure loads like bikes and oddly shaped cargo. Many companies produce them, but this set from Allied International comes complete with seven cords, two adjustable hooks, and an O-ring. Allied International; 800/248-6657.
www.alliedtools.com   |   163 0312 Safety09 Z Get Flared Up
Accident avoidance is ideal, but sometimes is impossible. When it happens, flares are a good way to help other drivers safely navigate around the incident. This set by Orion offers three flares per kit, with clever cardboard flare holders that lift the flames off the ground. This makes the flames more visible, safer to operate, and keeps them from coming in contact with oil or gasoline. Orion Safety Products; 410/822-0318.
www.orionflares.com   |   163 0312 Safety13 Z Knowledge Is Power
Tire pressure is an absolute safety factor, wherever you drive. SmarTire monitors tire pressure and alerts drivers via a dash-mounted receiver of leakage or low tire pressure. NHTSA estimates 34,000 accidents in 1994 were due to improper tire pressure, making this device an excellent precautionary tool. SmarTire; 604/276-9884.
www.smartire.com   |   163 0312 Safety05 Z Phone Home--Safely
On the road, cell-phones have proven dangerous: using them takes driver concentration away from the road and hands from the steering wheel. Phone makers have developed handsfree headsets to eliminate this problem. This set from Nokia is compatible with four models of Nokia phones. Check with your cell-phone provider for more information, or contact Case Logic Wireless, Inc. at 800/854-6598.
www.caselogic.com   |   163 0312 Safety14 Z Straps
If you need more than bungee cords to hold your load, Allied International also produces these 12-foot Autocam tie-downs. Made of durable webbed straps with heavy steel-cam buckles, the tie-downs hold down larger loads, such as Jet Skis. The rubberized cam prevents corrosion and slippage. Allied International; 800/248-6657.
www.alliedtools.com   |   163 0312 Safety15 Z Tooling Up for Tooling Along
There's nothing like being able to fix a minor problem with a quick turn of the wrench. You can only get that feeling on the road if you have a portable tool kit. Featuring a large assortment of sockets, screwdrivers, and wrenches, this multifaceted kit might just keep your rig rolling wherever you are, making the $30 price easy to swallow. A variety of manufacturers produce these types of kits.
  |   163 0312 Safety19 Z More Hitching Possibilities
For a stylish alternative to a regular hitch cover, Street Scene Equipment offers the Sonar Parking Alert Hitch Cover. Available for stock and aftermarket hitches, the Hitch Cover is paintable and comes with or without the Sonar Alert System. With its sonar sensors, objects in the vehicle's path are detected up to eight feet away. The system works in all weather and road conditions, with a voice that alerts the driver of any obstacle. Street Scene Equipment; 888/477-0707.
www.streetsceneeq.com   |   ford Expedition Suv rear Works Like an Ox
When it comes to towing, it's smart to have safety cables capable of handling up to 10,000 pounds worth of stress, and Blue Ox Safety Cables are designed for just that. Made of plastic-coated, coiled aircraft steel with heavy-duty "S" hooks, these safety cables have the heaviest capacity available in the industry today. Automatic Equipment Manufacturing; 888/425-5382.
www.aemfg.com   |   163 0312 Safety07 Z Tire Fixing 101
You can fix your tire on the side of the road with the Emergency Tire Repair Kit from Griot's (pronounced gree-ohs) Garage. The kit contains a yellow chalk marker, utility knife, lube, pliers, reaming tool, and 25 plugs in an all-inclusive waterproof bag. It's the perfect size to store out of the way in your truck or SUV. Griot's Garage; 800/345-5789.
www.griotsgarage.com   |   163 0312 Safety08 Z Light Saber
Long the favorite of military and police alike, the Mag-Lite has provided illumination for people all around the globe. Featuring an ultrapowerful high-intensity bulb, aircraft aluminum watertight construction, and an adjustable beam, Mag-Lites are impossible to beat. With various sizes available, the Mag-Lite is an excellent light to have stowed in your vehicle, whether you're changing a tire at night or just trying to find something. Mag-Lite; 909/947-1006.
www.maglite.com   |   163 0312 Safety10 Z Get a Jump on Things
Available at most hardware stores and all automotive outlets, jumper cables are an essential for the cargo hold. Batteries don't care about the weather; they give up in the heat and cold. Jumper cables work with a great deal of success.
  |   163 0312 Safety12 Z Another Use for the Hitch
Backing up can be taxing, especially when you're driving a large SUV or truck. What you see behind you is often less than 10 percent of what's actually there. HitchCAM increases your visibility. By mounting a small camera in the hitch receiver of your truck or SUV, you can see a full view of what's really behind your vehicle on an LCD monitor, before you select Reverse. It makes moving your vehicle safer for everyone. HitchCAM; 323/724-2279.
www.hitchcam.com   |   163 0312 Safety11 Z Hoses and Hydrants
Any firefighter or policeman will agree it's a good idea to have a fire extinguisher in your vehicle. Available for home or automotive purposes, either will work in a truck or SUV, but be certain to read the package for best use. This particular unit is a vehicle-specific extinguisher from First Alert, which also produces 10 other types of extinguishers. First Alert; 800/323-9005.
www.firstalert.com   |   163 0312 Safety16 Z Portable Nurse
Several companies now produce first-aid kits for vehicles, available in small plastic boxes that are perfect for easy storage. These kits are excellent for dealing with small personal mishaps during road travel and come with bandages, wound cleanser, eye cleaners, soothing skin creams, and more. This version from Johnson & Johnson is compact but effective in the treatment of minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. Johnson & Johnson; 866/JNJ-2873.
www.jnj.com   |   163 0312 Safety18 Z Triangulate Safety
No matter how well-lit the highway is, if a breakdown occurs, reflective triangles alert other drivers of the situation. Available from a variety of manufacturers, this unit was found at Wal-Mart for less than $20. Easy to set up and weighted to remain standing even in windy conditions, triangles are also an excellent complement to road flares. For more information, contact your local Wal-Mart, K-Mart, or Target.
  |   163 0312 Safety17 Z