£1 gadget which could save your LIFE in winter – you must keep one in your glove box at all times, experts say
DRIVERS have been urged to keep a £1 Amazon gadget in their cars this winter - and it could even save your life.
The device is compatible with almost every car on the market and can prevent you from becoming dangerously stranded in sub-zero temperatures.
Winter is starting to bite in the UK, with forecasters predicting "gloomy" conditions this Halloween week.
Patches of "stubborn fog" and "widespread" rain might dampen trick-or-treat plans and could signal frostier weather to come as temperatures begin to slide.
With lows of around 4C expected over the weekend, it likely won't be long before drivers start to see wet and wintry conditions on the roads.
Honor Criswick, from the Met Office, said: "It's going to be quite a gloomy and grey week ahead.
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"We've got this trailing cold front moving its way to the southeast of the country, eventually clearing away."
With that in mind, the Met Office has teamed up with the RAC to put together a "winter car kit" that Brits should keep in their motors as the cold weather sets in.
Among the essential items, the experts recommended keeping an in-car phone charger close by to make sure you can stay in touch with the outside world if you break down on the roadside.
Most motorways in the UK have emergency phones along the carriageway these days, but there are plenty of smaller roads where a mobile would be the only way to call a recovery truck.
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They advised: "Don't assume you can rely on your smartphone.
"Have an in-car phone charger so you can top up your battery even when you’re out and about."
You can find charges on Amazon for as little as £1, with most having the option of a USB port plus an adaptor to fit into the car's cigarette lighter.
However, the RAC team did urge drivers to pack a torch and a paper map as well, so they don't have to be dependent on their phones.
They added: "But what if you break down somewhere with no phone signal?
"If you're on the motorway you'll need to locate the nearest emergency phone.
"On quieter roads, assess the situation - it may be a case of walking to the nearest house or sitting tight and waiting for a passing motorist to stop and help."
And it wasn't just phone-related kit that motorists were urged to keep on hand.
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Cheap items like an ice scraper, warning triangles and a jerry can could keep you safe, get you moving and help you avoid hefty fines.
Likewise, if you do have to wait it out in your car, make sure you have some warm clothes, blankets and some food and drink to get through.
What should be in your winter car kit?
According to the RAC
By Jacob Jaffa, Motors Reporter
- Ice scraper
- Torch
- Paper maps
- Phone charger
- Warm clothes/blankets
- High-vis clothing
- Jump cables
- Jerry can
- Warning triangles
- Food and drink
- A shovel
- Sunglasses