20+ Items That Disabled Drivers Should Have Before Getting In Their Vehicle
As a disabled driver, you know that the unexpected can and often does occur; tires blow out, you get delayed or stuck in heavy traffic, you encounter bad weather, or you have an accident. Driving involves inescapable risks. So, in order to stay safe and to avoid any unfortunate situations while traveling by car, disabled drivers need to have some essential items with them at all times. It is crucial that every time you get into your vehicle you have things that will keep you safe and help you to handle some potentially sticky situations.
So, what documents should a disabled driver carry while driving? What are good things for a disabled driver to keep in their car? What should you keep in your glove box at all times? Let’s answer these crucial questions now.
What Are Good Things To Keep In Your Car?
Some items are good to keep in your car at all times, such as first aid equipment and vehicle emergency repairs equipment. Other items are essential to have while you travel but are best not kept in your vehicle at all times.
Examples of items that you should not keep in your car when you are not using it are:
- Driver’s license. Your driver’s license is best stored in your wallet, which you should keep on your person instead of in your vehicle at all times.
- Disabled parking permit. This can be used in any vehicle in which the holder is traveling, so a lot of permit holders like to keep their permits on their person instead of in their vehicle.
What Documents Should A Driver Carry While Driving?
The documents that all disabled drivers should carry while driving are:
- Disabled parking permit
- Driver’s license
- Vehicle registration
- Proof of insurance
What Should You Keep In Your Glove Box?
Your glove box is the perfect place to keep valuable and important items. The items that every disabled driver should keep in their glove box are:
- Disabled parking placards (these should be stowed in the glove box while the car is moving)
- COVID safety equipment such as face masks, hand sanitizer, napkins, and travel wipes
- Medical information, including details of any medical conditions, medications and allergies for yourself and any people who regularly travel with you
- Emergency contact numbers (in case your phone breaks or is inaccessible)
- Proof of insurance
- Pen and paper
- Owner’s manual and maintenance schedule for your vehicle
- Flashlight and batteries
- High-energy snacks such as dried fruit and nuts
What Should Disabled Drivers Keep In Their Car At All Times?
Here are 20 items that disabled drivers should make sure they have before getting in their vehicle.
- Disabled parking permit
- Driver’s license
- Vehicle registration
- Proof of insurance
- Pen and paper
- Owner’s manual and maintenance schedule for your vehicle
- Flashlight and batteries
- Any specific medications you use
- First aid kit (bandages, antibiotic cream, anti-itch cream, anti-bacterial gel, pain reliever, allergy medication, antacids, eye wash, lip balm, tweezers)
- Any mobility aids that you or your passengers require
- High-energy snacks
- Drinking water
- Vehicle emergency repair kit (Spare tire, jack, tire gauge, tire inflator and sealer, lug key, vehicle manual, jumper cables, oil and funnel, water, screwdrivers, pliers, duct tape, WD 40, flares, visibility jacket)
- COVID safety kit (face masks, hand sanitizer, face shield, travel wipes)
- Wheelchair ramps and transfer boards if you are in a wheelchair
- Medical information
- Emergency contact numbers
- Sunglasses
- Cash
- Comfort kit (blankets, extra clothes, toilet paper, sunscreen, insect spray, contact lens holder solution, travel toothbrush, toothpaste and floss)
How Do You Get A Disabled Parking Permit?
The best way to get a disabled parking permit is to arrange a telemedicine consultation with a licensed doctor in your state through the Dr. Handicap online clinic.
At the online clinic, you will have a video chat with a licensed doctor in your state who will verify your medical condition and then complete and sign a DMV disabled parking application form, which they will email to you immediately. It is an efficient and simple process.
Featured image by Hannah Sutherland on Unsplash