Roadside Safety Tips what to do if your Car Breaks down Mechanical Problems
There are some things in life that are not a matter of if, but more of a when. Your vehicle breaking down while you are driving is one of these cases. If it has not ever happened to you, count yourself lucky, but be prepared. More than likely it will happen at some time. Proper preparation will make this unpleasant experience much easier to handle and more importantly much safer to you and any passengers you may have with you.
The greater majority of vehicle breakdowns are going to happen while you are actually driving down the road. The ways that a car can break down are as varied as the types of cars that are on the road. Since we are discussing roadside safety tips, we will assume that it is just a run of the mill break down and the engine stops for no reason, or possibly a flat tire. These are both very common equipment failures that happen to motorists every day on the roads all over the road.
If you are not already in the far right lane (in the U.S. and other countries that drive on the right side of the road), move into the farthest right lane as quickly as possible in a safe manner. If the engine has died, quickly put the vehicle in neutral. This will reduce the friction from the transmission and allow you to keep some forward momentum. This momentum is important because you need to get the vehicle out of the flow of traffic.
Once you are in the right lane, go ahead and pull/coast onto the shoulder. If a shoulder is not available, pull the car as far off the road as possible. Of course each situation is different. You don't want to be sticking out in traffic but driving down into a ravine is not a very good idea either. As soon as the car has died, turn on the emergency flashers. This will let other motorists know something is wrong and hopefully stop them from rear ending you at full speed.
Make sure that the flashers remain on while you are on the side of the road. If you have knowledge of automotive repair, you may want to get out of the vehicle to see if you can fix it. If this is the case, check and double check that it is safe to exit the vehicle. You do not want to get hit by another car that is travelling at 55mph. If you are on an exceptionally busy road, it may not be a bad idea to exit the car on the passenger side. This is the safer route in any case.
If you are not mechanically inclined, stay in the vehicle. If your car is equipped, use an emergency system like Onstar. If not, use a cell phone to call a tow truck or the police. Having the police present is not a bad idea. Anytime there is a chance to take advantage of a person, there are people that will use that for their own personal gain. It is an ugly world, but better safe than sorry.
Always be wary of anyone that is offering to help. In a perfect world, that is what they would be doing. In the real world, the "helper" may have much less honorable intentions. If in doubt at all, keep doors locked and windows rolled up. Wait for the police to get there. They will be able to get a tow truck so that your car can be taken to a repair shop.
All and all, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Keeping your family and yourself safe always take precedence over possibly insulting a genuine good Samaritan.
