What to Do in a Roadside Emergency: 10 Safety Tips
A sudden flat tire. A steam-spouting car engine. An empty fuel tank. Situations like these are never a welcoming sight when you’re on the road.
Roadside emergencies are everyday situations that become the biggest trouble at times. Hundreds of accidents take place every day, and many are caused due to incomplete knowledge of motorists regarding roadside safety. Therefore, you should always be prepared for any unfavorable situation to avoid unwanted stopping on roadways and even injuries and casualties. Have complete knowledge of how to safely manage emergencies on the road.
Here are a few tips that can help keep you and others safe during an event of a vehicle breakdown or accident on the road.
Vehicle Checklist to Avoid Roadside Emergencies
Before getting on the road, it’s wise to ensure your vehicle is in good working condition to avoid accidents and breakdowns. Make sure your vehicle has:
- Battery with a strong charge
- Properly inflated tires
- Bake system in a good working order
- Enough Fuel
- Filled radiators
- The engine is in a good condition
- Properly working lights if you’re driving at night or in foggy weather
- Properly working windshield wipers
- Emergency kit
10 Tips to Avoid a Roadside Emergency
1. Take action immediately
As soon as you realize something is wrong with the car, you should never wait too long to make your next move. Always take action immediately, or your vehicle may stop before leaving the road. A stuck car in the middle of the road is dangerous. You better make a quick decision.
2. Call for roadside assistance
Roadside assistance is your best solution when you’re caught in any kind of roadside emergency. You can call a towing car facility to help move your car to a safe place and assure your and your vehicle’s safety. If you have access to the internet, Googling something like “towing near me” will help you find a nearby towing service provider.
When contacting a company for help, make sure to give them clear instructions about your location and the description of your vehicle to avoid any inconvenience and make the process fast. Sharing your GPS location helps.
3. Warn others you are having trouble
If you are in trouble and stuck in the middle of the road, inform others about that. Show the hazard signs and switch the lights on to warn every driver on the road. This will let people around you be informed about your situation. Keeping your flags, triangles, or any other signs that can make your vehicle visible to the drivers on the road handy is a plus in such situations.
4. Get off the road as soon as possible
If you experience any emergency while driving, try to take your car to a safe spot. Drive as much as possible to reach a position where there are no chances of being hit by a vehicle.
Try looking for a parking lot or standing under a street light. This will make you visible to people and keep you safe. Moreover, never stop your car on a turn or around the corners of the road/street. These are blind spots where accidents are likely to happen.
5. Always remember you are in traffic
One of the foremost essential things you must be careful about is that you are in traffic. Many drivers start repairing their cars in the middle of the road. Remember, you and your vehicle are not safe with the fast traffic flow.
If you are stuck on a high-speed moving road, you better stay in your car with your seat belts on. If God forbid you are hit by any other vehicle, your car can protect you. Never stand beside or behind your car on a high-speed road.
6. Don’t exit the car until it’s safe
You obviously get panicked as soon as you realize something is wrong with your car, and you want to fix it immediately. However, you shouldn’t immediately jump out of the car to check what is wrong. Always check the traffic before making your next move. Get off the passenger seat if traffic is in the driver’s seat side. Make a smart move, and do not get nervous.
7. Be prepared with emergency supplies
Be prepared for any situation beforehand. Emergency supplies should be there in your vehicle all the time. You must carry extra water, food, and a first aid box to deal with unwanted circumstances. Likewise, it’s advised to have emergency tools such as spare tires, jack, jumpers, gloves, duct tape, and more that might come in handy during a roadside emergency. You must also carry reflective flags or images that can warn people about you having trouble.
8. Know when to call a professional
Many of you might feel like you can manage roadside emergencies alone. It is true; you may. However, there are times when you need assistance. You may change a flat tire in a parking lot, but it is not the same on a highway. Be smart, and call a professional to fix the problem at the right time.
9. Be careful about accepting help
Imagine being stuck on a road with traffic all around the road. There will be many vehicles that may stop by and offer help. They may have good intentions, but be careful about who you trust. If you are waiting for your roadside assistance, just let them know and thank them for the help.
10. Contact an attorney after the accident
If you have experienced a terrifying roadside accident, you must take immediate action after it. If the other driver on the road is at fault for the accident, you can claim compensation from him/her. Contact your lawyer, who can help you gain the amount or recover your loss. The right action at the right time will save you from any further loss.
To Wrap it Up
Roadside emergencies are one of the biggest concerns for all drivers. This might sound simple to handle these emergencies, but hasty decisions during a crisis can cause a disaster. Therefore, you should know about necessary roadside emergency safety tips to come out unscathed.
We hope this article helps you learn how to safely handle a vehicle breakdown or accident on the road. Feel free to comment below if you have any questions, we’ll be happy to answer them.
