What to Do when Your Car Stops on the Road
Friday, 6 July 2012
Nothing can ruin your day quite like breaking down in the middle of the road. A car can stop on the road for a number of different reasons. Whether it happens because of a flat tyre or due to a mechanical failure, it is important to keep safety in mind at all times. People are injured while attending to their immobilised vehicles all the time. While you're going to want to get your car on the road again, you don't want to do so at the expense of your own safety. Keep the following tips in mind to handle the situation as safely as possible.
Get it Out of the Road
The first thing to do is to get your vehicle out of harm's way. If you notice a problem while the vehicle is still moving, you should definitely get it to a full and complete stop right away. While doing so, do what you can to manoeuvre it to the side of the road.
In some cases, it may not be possible to manoeuvre the vehicle to the side of the road while it is still operable. You may need to put it in neutral and push it. However, this task requires at least two people. One person should sit behind the wheel and steer the car while the other person pushes it. If you are alone, you will need to wait for a helpful passer-by to assist you.
Make it Visible
Even after your car is safely off the road, you need to make certain that other drivers can see it. The hard shoulder is not a safe place. Distracted drivers could stray out of their lanes and collide with it if it's not clearly visible. Turn on your car's hazards immediately. If you have a vehicle emergency kit, which is a nice thing to have, use orange cones to draw attention to your car. If it is dark outside, turn on your car's dome light to make it more visible.
Alert Others that You Need Help
With any luck, a patrol vehicle will see your car and come by to assist you. You can increase the odds of this happening by making it obvious that you need assistance. Open the hood of your car, even if it's not technically necessary. Drape something white from one of its windows, or tie it to the car's antenna.
Call for Assistance
If no one voluntarily stops to assist you, call for help. If you have a membership to a roadside assistance service, now is the time to put it to use. Otherwise, contact the local authorities. Make sure to use the non-emergency number.
Additional Tips
In the case of a flat tyre only change it if you can do so without being too close to passing traffic. Never stand behind or next to your vehicle. If another car veers off the road, you could be hurt or killed. As long as your car is safely out of traffic, it is fine to sit inside it until help arrives. Above everything else, stay calm. The situation will be resolved before you know it.
This information was provided by Allianz Your Cover Insurance.
For more information please visit www.yourcoverinsurance.co.uk
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