If your car breaks down on the side of the road, you’ll need to know the right steps to take to stay safe. These steps are important and in some instances, can save your life.
Start by getting your car as far off of the road as you possibly can. By getting your car out of the flow of traffic you reduce the risk of someone hitting your car and causing further damage to your car, yourself and your passengers. If you can’t find a parking lot, rest area, exit, or wide shoulder, be sure to pull as far to the side of the road as you possibly can. Turn the hazard lights on for your car as well so that other cars will see that you’re stopped and hopefully slow down and be able to avoid hitting your car.
Before anyone opens a car door discuss a plan and then proceed with caution. Be especially mindful of younger children who are much less likely to be mindful of oncoming traffic. If for any reason you can’t get your car out of the flow of traffic, remain buckled up in your seatbelt and turn on your emergency flashers. Do not allow anyone to get out of the or to unbuckle their seatbelts. Call for help on your cellphone immediately. Also, if you break down in a dangerous neighborhood or area, don’t exit your car. Remain in your car with the windows up and doors locked until a police officer arrives.
Do not get out of the car unless you’re safely off of the road and out of the main flow of traffic. It only takes a second to get hit by a car and become another statistic yourself. Do not open the car door on the traffic side of the road. Instead, open the door and exit the car on the other side of the road. If the car is on fire move safely away from the car quickly to a safe area. There are approximately 4000 pedestrian fatalities annually and 59,000 of these are from roadside emergencies. Do not set yourself or your family up to be one of these statistics.
If you can safely exit your vehicle, and you have flares or triangles set them out immediately to help prevent anyone from hitting your car. If you have a cell phone, call for help immediately. Help may be a friend, auto shop or even a tow truck. You’ll want to get your car to a safe location as quickly as possible.
Also, you should always keep a blanket (or two or three) in your car for emergencies. Car breakdowns never happen when it’s convenient so it may be winter or pouring rain when it breaks down. It’s also wise to have a first aid or medical kit in your car as well. Whether you need a band aid or something else, it’s important to have them on hand and avoid any further injury.
Additionally, having roadside assistance coverage can go a long way towards keeping you safe during a breakdown. Roadside assistance coverage allows you to remain safely in your vehicle while waiting for experienced professionals to arrive and fix the problem. Purchasing a plan through Best Roadside Service includes benefits such as towing, flat tire service, fluid top offs, and lost key and lockout service. As an added bonus, national chains including Meineke, Aamco, and Jiffy Lube offer discounts to Best Roadside Service customers for car repairs and maintenance.
Breaking down is never convenient and can be dangerous, but if you follow these steps, and have roadside assistance coverage in place for emergencies, you can significantly reduce the risk of harm to yourself, your family, and other.