Things to do if Your Vehicle Breaks Down While Driving
One of the worst things that can happen while driving is for your vehicle to have a major malfunction. If you can feel your vehicle starting to have trouble while you’re on the road driving, try to pull over to the right shoulder immediately. This is especially important if you’re highway driving. While pulling your car off to the side of the road, please keep the following safety procedures in mind.
Try coasting until you are able to find a straight portion of the road, away from any curves so you are able to see oncoming traffic for when you eventually do try to get back on the road.
If your engine dies, do not get out of your vehicle. While the traffic you see backing up behind you is unnerving, the thought of running across the highway is a much worse option.
If it’s nighttime and dark outside, turning on an interior light so other drivers can see you if a good idea. If your engine is still operable, you should leave it running as not to drain the battery.
Most roads that are heavily traveled are also heavily patrolled. There is a good chance that a highway patrol officer may come to your assistance.
Additional Breakdown Safety Tips
Once you’re safely on the roadside, consider taking some other safety precautions:
- Attaching a piece of white cloth or paper to the driver’s side window by rolling it down, sliding the piece of cloth or paper in, and rolling the window back up can help to signal that you are broken down.
- Using your cell phone to call roadside assistance if you are within cell range can get help to you most quickly. If you are without a phone, locating an emergency call box if one is available, is the next best option. If not, your cloth or paper will suffice until help comes.
- During the day, use your vehicle’s emergency blinkers to alert other drivers that you aren’t able to move. At nighttime, don’t turn your blinkers on as other drivers may think your vehicle is still moving, although slowly and might hit you. If you have them, putting flares around your car is a good idea at night if you aren’t stuck in the middle of the road in traffic.
- If your problem is a flat tire, don’t change it unless it’s on the side of your car facing away from traffic.
If your car does break down, the auto repair experts at AAMCO of Lee’s Summit can help. Call us right away for help with all of your vehicle’s auto repair and maintenance needs.
