Experienced Russian drivers store numerous handy gadgets in their car to make their lives easier. Here's a peek at some of the most useful ones.


Every driver in this country must carry a medical kit and a fire extinguisher in their car. This isn't a rule I created myself -- it was established by the traffic police, but I must say I am in favor of it. Both objects are useful in the case of an accident but they have other advantages as well.


For example, every Russian medical kit contains a small vial of white tablets called Validol. The tablets are for heartburn, but new drugs are probably much better. Validol still has its uses, though. It has a very strong smell and I take a pill after I've had two or three beers or 50 grams of vodka to make sure the police don't catch the scent of alcohol on my breath.


One warning, however: Validol is an over-the-counter drug but it can still be dangerous for people with existing health problems, especially if it is taken after a few drinks. Check with a doctor or use it at your own risk.


As for the fire extinguisher, Russian ones either contain a liquid-based substance inside or a dry, gaseous material. The ones with the wet substance are helpful even when you don't have a fire. After you have changed a tire, your hands are bound to be filthy and you can use this liquid to wash them. I have tried the blue-red fire extinguisher filled with a liquid called chladon. It really works.


Drivers should also keep several old coins in their car, especially if they own a Russian car. These discarded bits of money can be used in place of failed fuses -- and they keep working for a surprisingly long time. I drove a Lada 2016, for example, for a year and a half with a five kopek coin in place of a fuse.


If you have a Lada 2105 or 2109, you should have an empty cigarette packet on hand. When you have blown a fuse, just cover it with the silver paper from inside the cigarette packet and then put the fuse back it place. The paper will help bring it back to life. In Russian, this device is called a zhuchok, or bug.


Another vital piece of equipment is a clean drinking glass in your glove compartment. Every real Russian driver carries this since it is essential during meetings throughout the day. No, I don't mean formal get-togethers at the Mezh or some other office. I mean meetings with your mechanic or the workers repairing your apartment. They may well conclude with toasts from one (or two or three) bottles of vodka, and you will feel out of place if you can't provide your own glass.


During the winter, you should always have jumper cables to start cars with a weak battery. Even if you are sure your car doesn't need this device, keep it anyway, since you may be able to help somebody else. Later on this person may be very useful to you -- a friend of mine got a very good job this way.