01 Aug Keeping Yourself Safe When Your Car Breaks Down

At some point in most of our lives, we’ll be in the middle of a commute when our car suddenly stops working. The cause is often a flat tire, but sometimes it’s a more serious mechanical problem. When this happens, the first concern isn’t what’s wrong with your car but rather how to make the situation as safe as possible.

If you can, get your car as far off the road as possible. Ideally, this means guiding it into a parking lot, but if that’s not possible, drive it as far onto the shoulder of the road or into a driveway. The further you can get your vehicle away from traffic, the better. If you’re on the road’s shoulder, make sure you turn

your hazard lights on and that you keep your headlights on. Both of these things make your car more visible.

Once you have your car out of traffic, you can assess the situation. First, try to figure out why your car isn’t working and if it’s possible to drive it any further. If you think you can drive to a better location, keep your hazard lights on and continue to stay out of traffic.

Decide if you’re in a safe neighborhood. If you’re worried about your personal safety, the best thing you can do is lock yourself in the car until help arrives.

Call for help. The very fact that your car has broken down means you’re in an emergency situation, so don’t hesitate to call the police. They will reach you as quickly as possible. Not only will they be able to help you secure your car, but it’s also likely that the police can offer advice about who can tow your car and may be willing to give you a ride home. Even if the officer cannot give you a ride, they should stay with you until someone who can take you arrives.

Don’t have your car towed home unless you think you can handle the repairs. If you feel you need professional mechanical work done on your car, have it towed directly to your mechanic? This saves you the expense of having your vehicle towed twice.

Regular tune-ups are the best way to avoid getting stranded on the side of the road. Contact us today to book one for your vehicle!