Electrical problems, engine problems, transmission problems, tire problems – there are dozens of scenarios that can cause your vehicle to immediately break down when you are in the middle of the road. When it happens to you it can be difficult to find out what to do without being panicked.
But the major concern is when your vehicle fails while you’re driving, if you don’t act quickly a hassle can quickly become dangerous. So what steps should you take if your car breaks down? In this blog post, we’ll give you a complete guide about the things that you have to do when you are stuck on the road due to the unexpected breakdown of the vehicle.
Step 1: Get out of harm’s way
Your first priority is ensuring you and your passengers are in the safest possible position regardless of what’s going on with your car: Do your best to steer towards the side of the road, or the shoulder, and park the vehicle as far from the road as you safely can. When you’ve come to a stop, engage the emergency brake and angle your wheels away from the road.
Stay put: Don’t exit the vehicle to push if you can’t get off the road. Wait for help and stay put.
Note your location: Make note of your relative location after you’ve stopped and engaged the emergency brake. Look for exit signs, intersections, and mile markers. When calling for help you’ll need this information.
Step 2: Make sure you and your vehicle are visible
After moving the vehicle to the safest possible place, for other drivers, you’ll need to make your vehicle visible. Following these steps ensures that other drivers are aware of your situation:
Hazard lights: Turn on your car’s hazard lights whether you’re able to get your car off the road or not. This button is usually fairly easy to spot but never in the same place. Sometimes in the center console or on the steering column look for a large button with an orange or red triangle.
Cones, flares, and reflectors: If you have flares, traffic cones, or some other sort of emergency signaling device, you can place them about six feet behind your car to give drivers ample time to take notice of you and your vehicle.
Fly a flag: In some cases, your hazard lights may not be bright enough to adequately signal other drivers or may not work. If you have some sort of brightly colored cloth, like a spare t-shirt or towel, you can signal your distress by closing it in the driver-side window or door or by tying it to the radio antenna.
Prop open your hood: Propping the hood of the car open can also be a distress signal to other drivers.
Remember, only exit the vehicle to place signals or open the hood if you are in a safe enough position to do so.
Step 3: Call for help
Next, you’ll need to call someone for assistance
Call roadside assistance: In a situation such as this roadside assistance services can be a lifesaver. If you want a towing truck in NYC, Queens Cheap Towing is always ready to serve you in need because we have a professional and certified team who have experience dealing with any minor or major situation.
Call the police: It can be tempting to focus on calling a tow truck or roadside assistance when your car dies. However, depending on the situation, you may need to call the police first.
A vehicle blocking traffic in the middle or at an intersection of the road is incredibly dangerous and can easily lead to a collision. For this reason, you’ll want to make sure that emergency services are notified as quickly as possible. Make sure to tell them that your car is blocking traffic when you speak to the dispatch operator so that they know to send an officer to direct traffic immediately. The police will contact a towing company for you if you don’t have roadside assistance. In any case, hitching a vehicle to a tow truck in the middle of traffic is dangerous for the tow truck operator so it is necessary to have an officer on site.
Call a family member or a friend: Contact a friend or family member after you’ve contacted emergency services, and let them know what’s going on.
Don’t flag other drivers: It can be distracting and dangerous to flag down other drivers, so avoid doing this at all costs. Wait for the police or your roadside assistance to arrive.
Step 4: Assess the problem
It is generally recommended that to assess the problem avoid exiting the vehicle. However, exit through the passenger side door, or the door that is opposite the road if you are far enough off the road and in a safe position. Before help arrives if you have the opportunity to give your vehicle a quick inspection, be on the lookout for symptoms in the following categories.
Sounds: Did you hear something troubling? A pop, bang, crunch, clang, or any other sound that your vehicle shouldn’t be making? In case abnormal sounds can help you narrow it down you may not be able to determine the exact source or cause.
Sights: Did you notice anything out of the ordinary? Try to remember any warning signs or lights on the dash that you may have seen flashing. Take note of any abnormal readings that your gauges, for example, the engine temperature, might be telling you.
Even an experienced mechanic may have trouble diagnosing problems by sight on the side of the road, but there are obvious things you can look for if you’re able to safely pop the hood. For example, if a belt is missing or out of place, if there are fluids coating your engine, or if there are burn marks anywhere, for future reference take pictures.
Smells: Sometimes an unusual smell becomes a powerful diagnostic tool. The smell of fluids or burning oil might indicate an engine problem whereas the unmistakable smell of electrical systems burning can tell a different story.
Unfortunately, there typically isn’t much you can do to get the car back in working order on the side of the road. However, in some cases, to get moving again you may simply need to change a tire. If this is the case, for the safety purpose never attempt changing a tire on the side of the vehicle facing the road. It’s best to wait for help if you are unable to position the vehicle in a safe direction.
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