The regulations in force in Poland do not require drivers to carry too many additional items of equipment in the car. Some, however, are worth getting interested in yourself, either for safety reasons or simply for convenience.
In every car moving on Polish roads, two additional elements are absolutely required - a fire extinguisher and a warning triangle.
In the case of a fire extinguisher , it should have a capacity of min. 1 kg, have valid homologation and undergo annual technical inspections. Remember that the fire extinguisher should be placed in an easily accessible place, so definitely not in the trunk.
By choosing a homologated triangle , we will not only meet the legal requirements, but we will also be sure that the reflective surface is large enough for the triangle placed on the road to be noticed by other drivers early enough.
In Poland, you do not need to have a reflective vest on your vehicle. Fortunately, however, many drivers voluntarily decide to make such a purchase. If we have a breakdown at night, or it is even necessary to stop on the side of the road to replace a light bulb or refill liquids, thanks to the vest we will be clearly visible to other drivers. Without reflective elements on clothes, at night we will be noticed only a dozen or so meters in front of the oncoming vehicle. For the driver, this may mean the lack of sufficient time to brake the car, and for us, it may be a deadly threat.
It is also worth having a flashlight , which, like a vest, can be used to mark places that should be paid special attention to. In addition, a flashlight can be useful as a light source necessary when changing a light bulb or doing a small repair.
And if so, do not forget about the bulbs and fuses themselves - you should have all types that are present in the car.
In today's cars, most of the tools are unlikely to be useful to us, because few breakdowns can be dealt with directly on the road today. However, just in case, we can keep a set of basic keys in the trunk.
Don't forget the spare wheel, jack and wheel wrench . Often drivers do not remember that the wheel in the trunk also has the right pressure. It's better that we don't remind ourselves of this until the wheel needs to be changed.
In emergency situations, a tow rope may also be necessary, thanks to which the car of a kind person will be able to pull our car when it breaks down.
When going on a long journey, it is good to have the same type of engine oil in the car as the one that is currently flooded in the engine. According to information from car manufacturers, each car is allowed to consume about 1 liter of oil per 1,000 kilometers, so you need to be prepared to top it up.
However, even if the car does not use oil, it will be difficult to avoid washer fluid consumption. Let's not forget to have winter fluid in the tank in winter, i.e. one that will not freeze. In winter, you also need to have accessories such as a window scraper and a shovel (or shovel) to dig the car out of the snow (not only on a long route, but sometimes even in a snowy parking lot). Chains may be useful in mountainous areas.
When completing the equipment, let's not skip the first aid kit . In Poland, having it is not mandatory, but you never know when you will have to use it. A good first aid kit should include bandages, plasters, a tourniquet, disinfectant, a mouthpiece for artificial respiration and protective gloves.
So equipped, we can move without fear even on a long journey. And the list of mandatory vehicle equipment that must be in every car in different countries is presented in the traffic regulations section.
Sometimes it is better to get lost than to ask for directions too much. Aldous Huxley
