The Canadian government recently advised that when travelling in icy/winter conditions you should carry the following items...
A SHOVEL
ICE SCRAPPERS
CAT LITTER
A CANDLE
BLANKETS OR SLEEPING BAG
A FUEL CAN (FULL)
DRINKING WATER
FOOD FOR 24 HRS
EXTRA WARM CLOTHING
SPARE SOCKS/HAT/GLOVES
A RED RAG
A WARNING TRIANGLE
A TORCH AND SPARE BATTERIES
JUMP LEADS
A TOW ROPE

I felt a right t**t getting on the bus today.

This is when you are driving and to put in the trunk of the car. And you should not be feeling bodily parts on the bus!

Joking aside, this is what everyone driving on winter roads should have. Add to that a Spot tracker and all is well. I have a few other items in my survival kit, such waterproof matches, purifying tabs, an old hard drive disk as a reflector, laser flare and space blankets. If you have a cell phone be sure the GPS setting is on and don't use it more than is necessary, SAR can triangulate you location using cell towers so long as the phone is on. Texting is the best way to summon help, Once sent a text message keeps trying to get through. Our team got a fix on one guy to within 11ft of his actual location.

There are some folks who were not prepared and are still out there somewhere.

Is that for orbital roads?

Driving through the mountain passes and when flying in the back country.

but didn't you feel superior to the other passengers knowing that you were prepared?

Bet he felt like a girl guide

laughed out loud at your last comment!

OK - so what's with the cat litter? traction if you get stuck - you put it behind the wheels right?

A Red Rag?? what's that for?

To help get bulls out of snowdrifts.

Kitty litter for traction (doesnt work that well, those spiked mat things would be much better)

Red Rag is so you have something that can be seen against a snowy backdrop I guess...

The cat litter is incase you get caught short No I believe it is for traction as you say. As for the red rag I was talking to the chief of police and no I was not in handcuffs he invited me into his house on boxing day for a beer. Anyway we were having a laugh about how I had no room in my trunk after filling it with shovels and blankets etc and he told me if ever you get stuck hang a red rag out of the window and the emergency services if passing will stop to assist realising it is not just another abandoned vehicle. Could be a life saver if you later fall asleep/pass out!

Wouldn't you be better with a black one? they might charge you if you use a red one?

Don't you guys have fluorescent clothing out there?

Makes sense now - so if you don't have phone etc - hang your rag out the window!

Only the hunters and crossing guards, so I guess that rules out 99.9% of expats

There are large parts of Canada where a phone wont get a signal. They are often the bits with bad weather and patchy snow clearance.

Seeing as how this thread seems to have unexpectedly diverted from humour to info: I used to carry a lot of that junk in my trunk, now I am lucky if I bother to keep the shovel, foil blanket and a few other bits and pieces beyond the obvious window scraper/ snow brush combo. Sure, If I was on a cross Canada trek I would pack a kit, but for the daily commute its overkill.