To remind people to have a breakdown bag in their car?

I’ve broken down on motorway too and it’s horrible.

Agree that I don’t understand why the barbed wire is there so you can’t get further away. Seems counter intuitive.

Hope your safe now.

Spare socks if you get your feet wet.

I have an emergency backpack in my car boot for this sort of situation. It has spare clothes, old trainers, hat and gloves, foil blanket and plastic poncho, some long life food, bottles of water, toothbrush, soap, first aid kit and meds like paracetamol and antihistamines, phone charger, a book, some cash, important phone numbers written down and a photocopy of my passport for ID.

It has come in useful for all kinds of situations - I live on my own so if I were to have an emergency hospital admission someone can grab the bag for me, I've been stranded at work overnight because of bad snow and had overnight essentials in the bag, I've had a kid throw up on me at work and I've got spare clothes in the bag.

I tried to think of a worst case scenario such as I have to leave the house in the middle of the night in January wearing only my pjs because of a fire/gas leak/whatever and put what I might immediately need in that situation in the back pack.

We always carry extra socks, gloves, jacket, foil blankets, first aid kits, water, barley sugar sweets, fluorescent pac a macs, an old wool blanket (it helps the tyres grip in snow) an emergency red triangle, folding spade. I keep these in the cars year round.

I live on the Suffolk coast and we don’t have motorways in East Anglia so whenever I venture near one, I’m usually staying away overnight and have a bag of stuff anyway but always handy to have a few bits with you just in case. I usually keep blankets in the car because this one doesn’t have heated seats in the back and the teenagers moan that they’re cold.

I’m impressed at how prepared some of you are though.

The candle thing is bunk, too. A typical candle gives out a small and finite amount of heat, and unless you have a massive candle it's not going to heat much.

Pretty sure I picked mine up in a pounds hop but these are the type

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Master-Plast-Adhesive-Lasts-Hours/dp/B0074JJS3K/ref=asc_df_B0074JJS3K/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=255964520112&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14995722231518763105&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046823&hvtargid=pla-422831681518&psc=1

My dad used to do a lot of long distances and so do I. I'd add a spade to previous posts, and cardboard- helps in the snow!
Great thread btw!

Can someone link the air activated heat packs please? Looking on amazon I can only see the tiny ones!

OP I really hope you've been rescued by now 🙏

I've got young kids so I'm definitely in the 'take everything just in case' stage, so I've always got spare clothes, snacks etc. I have always had an emergency car kit too, with first aid kit, warning triangle, foil blankets etc.

A couple of things I added recently -

An emergency candle, because I read that one single candle in a car will provide enough heat to stop you getting hypothermia overnight. But reading this thread I might get some air activated heat packs, I'd never heard of those!

Snow grips/crampons for shoes, in case I get stuck in heavy snow/ice. I thought that was easier and took up less space than always having boots in the car. Also means that if I'm with DH we can swap them between us, if one of us has to venture out and the other stay with the kids, etc.

Same here. Did have a load of emergency kit, but got cleared out one day and never properly replaced (used to be really into prepping). I still have warning triangles and emergency blankets, thick gloves and a bottle of water. But really need to get the rest of the kit back in now it's winter. I often leave for work with just thin trainers and a cardigan. So need to put a coat in, at least! Especially as I work in a town 15 miles away on a hill that gets a lot of snow.

We used to have this and no idea what changed! I must redo one asap

We also have an "if there's a fire" bag in the downstairs hall cupboard.

my previous neighbour had a fire. My bag was amazing while we were evacuated and had to stay with people overnight. Literally grabbed it and ran out the door...

It’s a timely reminder to at the very least keep a couple of fleecy blankets and something waterproof in the car. I’ve got a couple umbrellas, and some old ponchos left over from trips to theme parks. Touch wood, never needed them, but they don’t take up much space.

I have a fair amount of useful stuff in the car, but more to do with being disorganised with tidying the humongous boot than by being prepared. Currently a sleeping bag, two coats, three? pairs of shoes, spare t shirts, shorts, water, juice cartons, Kendal mint cake, boiled sweets, cereal bars, torch, tool kit, first aid kit, a couple of blankets, foil survival blankets, probably a kitchen sink…

You're all sorted for an emergency breakdown or an emergency murder!!

Just folded neatly in ordinary food zip lock bags, makes it very easy to grab the outfit for the affected person! It’s just a cheap £5 charger but it has never lost its charge despite months between uses in icy cars.

Thank you! I've been feeling positive about clearing out my car but need to rethink that. Hoping that you're somewhere warm by now.

People should also consider one of these for their emergency kit -

HONYAO Survival Sleeping Bag, Emergency Bivvy Bag Emergency Rescue Blanket Reusable for Outdoor Camping, Hiking https://amzn.eu/d/8kMm6yE

When I broke down I headed on in a taxi. It was an emergency trip though

What is the small towel for?

By those statistics, the OP's car would have been hit already several times over.

Hypothermia can kill or result in amputation. So this is why I have checked that 1. the OP is not in an active lane and 2. the hazards are working so that the vehicle is visible and why I have given advice to sit nearside with the seatbelt on if it is perishingly cold.

You may not like it, but that's professional advice.

Gosh, really poor that they’ve left you stranded in the dark by yourself for that long as a lone woman. Which breakdown organisation is it?

Also, thanks for my advice re a breakdown bag. I don’t usually carry quite so much stuff, but I will now I know how long I could be waiting!

I am definitely creating a breakdown pack for my car after reading this thread. I hope OP has been rescued now.

I regualry druve in France so always keep my breakdown stuff in the boot, including a big waterproof coat. Broke down just last month on a busy motorway so was very glad of all my stuff!
Stay safe Op xx

Thank you op, I don't have anything for an emergency and I live in a rural area so tomorrow I'm going to get a bag and pack a few things. Hope you're at home now warming up!