How to avoid a breakdown when your car breaks down

What do I do if my vehicle breaks down on the highway?

  1. Try to work your car safely toward the shoulder of the road so you can see oncoming traffic from your vantage point.
  2. Call your auto club or roadside assistance services.
  3. If you don't have a cell phone, look for an emergency call box nearby.
  4. If you can't find a call box, simply place a white cloth or piece of paper out of the driver's side window. Then wait for highway patrol. The white cloth or paper alerts drivers that your vehicle is in trouble.

What if my engine fails and I can't get to the shoulder?

  1. Stay in your vehicle. If the engine fails right on the highway and you can't make it to the shoulder, stay in your car and call for help. If you don't have a cell phone, hang a white cloth or piece of paper out of the window where traffic is passing by. See how that white cloth or piece of paper is coming in handy?

Are there different procedures for day or night?

  1. If it's day, put on your hazard lights to alert oncoming traffic that your vehicle isn't moving.
  2. If it's night, the brighter your vehicle, the better. Turn on your hazard lights and your interior lights, either manually or by leaving a door that's away from traffic ajar, to send out the message that your car is immobile.

Are there specific procedures that I need to follow if I get a flat tire on the highway?

  1. If you get a flat tire, do not try and change it unless you can get to the shoulder of the road.
  2. If you get the car to the shoulder of the road, only change the tire if it is on the side of the car that's not exposed to traffic.
  3. The same goes for any other emergency repairs.

Are there any items that are helpful in the event of a breakdown?

  1. Fully charged phone
  2. Working flashlight
  3. First aid kit
  4. Roadside flares/reflective markers
  5. Jumper cables
  6. Water
  7. Ready to eat rations
  8. Blankets
  9. Ice scraper
  10. Shovel
  11. Windshield washer fluid

Great. So any other details I should know about?

  1. Safety
  2. Safety
  3. Safety

Consider investing in a roadside assistance service that can help you get out of an unexpected jam.


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