Duct tape – the ultimate emergency roadside gadget

December 13, 10:25 AMGadgets ExaminerDan Appleman

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They say you can fix anything with
duct tape. It just may be true...

You can talk about IPods and digital TVs, but when you’re on the side of a freeway at night after a passing truck has just sideswiped your left side mirror so it’s hanging from a wire, what you really need is duct tape.

Fortunately, yesterday evening I had some, along with a flashlight, utility knife, warning reflector, tire inflator, booster cables and various other items in the emergency kit I bought years ago and had never needed – until yesterday. But what really saved me yesterday was the duct tape. I was able to patch up the mirror well enough to make it home.

An emergency roadside kit should be in every car

There are many emergency kits available. And while it makes sense to get a good value, spend an extra few dollars to make sure it has everything you want (and be sure it has the duct tape). Make sure you have one in every car. Parents: make sure you teens have one – they are more likely to need it than you will.

And while you’re at it, while most of these kits do have basic tools, there is no substitute for carrying a Swiss Army knife. I may not have had much use for that emergency kit until yesterday, but the knife I carry in the center console has seen frequent use.

If you live in a coastal area, one prone to flooding, one with lots of bridges and there’s a reasonable possibility the car might be driven or fall into water, be sure you also have an emergency escape hammer. If you’ve watched MythBusters you know that not only do these tools work – they are in many cases the only way to escape drowning.