Flats and Jumpstarts - Breakdowns - Preventative Measures
What To Do When Your Car Breaks Down
A breakdown is a stressful situation that can be compounded by traffic, weather, location, even the time of day. Become familiar with the following procedure before an emergency arises.
- Use the car's momentum to get it off the road safely and quickly.
- Put on the emergency flashers, put the car in neutral and get as far off to the right as possible. If you're on a divided highway, you may have to pull to the left.
- If you can't get off the road, set up flares.
- Exit the car from the door away from traffic.
- Raise the hood and leave it open.
- Tie a light colored cloth to the antenna or door handle to signal an emergency.
- If you have a cellular phone, use it to contact law enforcement officials.
The nationwide emergency number, 911, will put you in contact with help. Remember, however, that 911 operators cannot locate you on a cell phone, so it is important to know a mile marker or at least a landmark. Two drawbacks: cell phones can be out of range of a transmitter and some communities do not have the 911 number in place.
- Stay with the vehicle if at all possible. especially at night or during bad weather.
- Wait until a uniformed law enforcement officer arrives.
- Place a "Send Help" sign in a window so it is visible to other motorists.
- Keep doors and windows locked. If someone stops to assist you, crack the window and ask them to call law enforcement.
- If you must walk, write down your name, date, time you left your vehicle and the direction you are going. Leave that information on the dash. Walk facing traffic if there are no sidewalks.
- If you must accept a ride, write down the above information plus the plate number of the vehicle in which you're leaving, as well as a description of the driver and vehicle.
- Notify law enforcement of the location and circumstances in which you left your vehicle.
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