Even if you are a careful driver, you cannot prevent a breakdown. If your vehicle breaks down in the middle of the road, you may feel scared or frustrated. In such a situation, it is better not to panic. You can handle the situation better if you keep your wits about you and focus on what you should do and how to stay safe while waiting for help.
First things to do
If it is possible, steer your car to the right-hand shoulder of the road. Turn on your car’s hazard lights and engage the emergency brake, so your vehicle remains stationary. Contact your family and friends. Let them know where you are and that you are safe. Call a reputable towing company. Stay inside your car while you wait for a Boca Raton towing service to come and help you.
Safety precautions
Here are more safety precautions to follow:
- If the car trouble happens while driving, try to get to the road’s right-hand shoulder immediately. While attempting to reach the shoulder, look for a straight place so you can see the traffic on both sides. You can easily see oncoming traffic as well.
- When your car’s engine dies on the highway, and it isn’t easy to get off the road, it is better to remain inside your vehicle and call a towing service. Even if you inadvertently cause traffic, it is better than attempting to cross a busy freeway on foot. You can likewise wait for a highway patrol officer to give you some assistance.
- Hang out a piece of white paper or cloth on the window on the driver’s side and secure it with the window. The paper or fabric serves as a warning to other drivers that your car is in trouble so that they can pass around you.
- Do not attempt to work on your car from the side exposed to traffic because that is extremely dangerous. If your car can still move, steer it towards a safer area. If the trouble is minor and you can fix it yourself, see that you remain safe. If the problem is major, it is better to wait for either a road assistance or towing service.
- It is alright to put on your emergency blinkers when it’s daytime. The flashing of the blinkers will quickly alert oncoming traffic that your car is in trouble. However, if the car trouble occurs at night, it is better to have reflective markers to warn drivers that your car is not moving. Place the reflective markers or warning lights six feet away from the rear of your car. Stay inside your vehicle until help arrives.
- You can also turn on your car’s interior lights or leave a car door on the safe side open so your interior light will remain on.
Be sure you remain alert. If someone stops by to ask if you need assistance, trust your instinct. It would help if you always thought about your safety. If you have called a towing service or road assistance, wait for it. It’s also prudent to keep in constant touch with your family and friends.
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