Having your car break down in the middle of the road can be dangerous and quite inconvenient to yourself and those driving around you. What you do in the situation is really important and your safety is the number one priority whether you break down in the middle of a freeway, intersection or a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. Please use the steps we have listed below to help you and your vehicle get out safely if you break down in the middle of the road.
Turn on the Hazard Lights
If your battery isn’t dead, you should be able to turn on your hazard lights. Let this be the first thing you do so that other drivers are aware you’re stranded. This will increase your chance of someone stopping, especially if law enforcement is nearby.
If your battery is dead in this situation and you find it safe to do so, you can either stick your hand out of the window and wave for help or get out of the vehicle completely and try to wave someone down. There are parts available online like batteries and engines on sites like www.sircarpart.com that can help you in these situations.
Move Your Car
If you’re able to do so safely, get your car as close to the shoulder or side of the road as you can. This will ensure you’re a bit safer than being in the middle of the road. Whether you’re able to get over to the side or not, put your parking break on and turn the car off.
Call For Help
Now that you’re hopefully out of the middle of the road and you have your hazard lights on, this is the right time to call for help. This can mean a number of things for each person. You can call a friend that’s close by, roadside assistance if you have it, a tow truck or law enforcement if needed.
It can be a good idea to keep a list of these emergency numbers in your phone or a physical copy in your car in the event that you don’t have a working phone and need to use someone else’s.
Wait In Your Car
Whether you break down in a city during the day or in the middle of nowhere at night, it’s best to stay inside your car. There are several reasons to stay in your vehicle including things like busy traffic that could be passing you or you may not have broken down in a safe area of town. It’s best to wait for help to arrive and go from there.
In Conclusion
Hopefully you never end up in a situation where you need to use these tips but it is better to be safe than sorry. Remember to first put your hazards on and if you’re able to, get your vehicle to the side of the road and call for help. Doing these steps will ensure that you stay as safe as possible while still assessing the situation at hand to get your car up and running in no time.
