Few drivers carry emergency items in trunk

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BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Most U.S. drivers carry "junk" in their trunk, with few carrying recommended emergency supplies, a survey indicates.

The survey by State Farm found more than 60 percent of drivers had non-emergency supplies in their trunk, ranging from extra clothes to used food or drink containers.

Most drivers did not have several of these common-sense items in their trunk including:

-- Jumper cables.

-- Spare tire.

-- Hazard triangle/road flares.

-- Flashlight.

-- First aid kit.

-- Water.

-- Blanket.

"Even on a relatively short trip, you can find yourself stranded for several hours. From icy waters splashing up on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago to fog covering the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, it's important to be prepared," Robert Medved, safety expert at State Farm, said in a statement. "These new findings highlight the importance of having the right emergency equipment so people can safely get back on the road faster."

Medved also recommended drivers at least twice a year check spare tires were properly inflated, first-aid supplies were current, all supplies were fully stocked and the cellphone charger was compatible with either a power outlet or a USB port in your car.

Communication capability could be the number one lifeline in some roadside emergency cases, Medved said.

The landline and cellphone survey of 1,010 U.S. adults, of which 895 were drivers, was conducted by KRC Research from Dec. 6-9. No margin of error was provided.