No matter if you are driving down the road for groceries or across the country on vacation, safety should always be on your mind.

What would you do if a light popped up on your dashboard? What would you do if you blew a tire in the middle of nowhere? Although you may dread these situations, you never know when something bad is going to happen. For this reason, the best thing you can do is stay prepared.

Here are five safety related items to keep in your car at all times:

1. Owner’s manual. Is there any good reason to remove the owner’s manual from your car? This is something that you should keep in your glove box at all times.

You may never read the manual, but if something goes wrong you will find yourself thumbing through the pages sooner rather than later.

Tip: if you purchase a used vehicle that does not have an owner’s manual, contact your local service department for information on how to request one.

2. Jumper cables. Even if you have a brand new battery, jumper cables are a necessity. If your battery ever dies, you can get a jump from another car. Along with this, it allows you to provide assistance to another vehicle that will not start.

Even if you don’t know how to use jumper cables, having this item in your car is a must. You can always find somebody who can show you what to do.

3. Flashlight. Do you need to take a closer look at something under the hood? Are you stranded in the dark with nowhere to turn? With a flashlight, you never have to worry about being in the dark for too long.

Remember, this is more than something that can help you take a closer look at your vehicle. It can also help to keep you safe if you are stranded.

Note: keep extra batteries alongside your flashlight.

4. First Aid Kit. In today’s day and age, many new cars are coming equipped with a standard first aid kit. This includes everything from gauze to band aids and much more.

In addition to what is included in the first aid kit, you can add your own items. For example, some people add a bottle of Tylenol or a related product.

5. A can of Fix-A-Flat. If you don’t know how to change a flat tire or find yourself in a position where this is impossible, you will be glad that you have this in your trunk.

With Fix-A-Flat, you can inflate your tire just enough to make your way to a repair shop. Not only is this quicker than swapping out the tire, but it is also safer.

Can you think of any other safety related items to store in your vehicle? While you don’t want to go overboard, it is important that you feel as safe as possible every time you take to the road.

If nothing else, make sure you confirm that you have or add the five items above to your vehicle.