Tips To Help You Remain Safe While Waiting For Roadside Assistance
No one wants to get a flat tire or have their car unexpectedly break down on them. However, this is a situation that hundreds of drivers find themselves facing each and every day. Paying for a roadside assistance program can help to ensure that you can get the help you need when you need it, such as help replacing a flat tire or getting your car towed to a repair shop. Here are a few tips to help you remain safe while you wait for roadside assistance:
Move Your Car Out of the Way of Traffic
If your car breaks down, always take the time to move your car out of the way of traffic. Push it to the shoulder, push it into a parking lot, or push it into an empty dirt lot. You can receive a ticket for blocking the flow of traffic if you are not making any effort to move a dead or stalled vehicle; you are also putting your safety at risk, as other drivers may not realize your car is stopped until it is too late and they rear-end you.
Put Your Hazard Lights On
Once your car is out of the way of traffic, be sure to put your hazard lights on. This helps other drivers to spot your vehicle and ensure that they do not get too close to it and clip it or hit it while driving. Putting your hazard lights on also helps your roadside assistance driver identify your vehicle as they approach.
Provide a Dispatcher With as Much Information as Possible About Your Location
When you call your roadside assistance company for help, try to provide them with as much information as possible. If you are on the freeway or a highway, look for identifying mile markers, road exits, or signs. If you are in a parking lot, try to identify cross streets and the name of the building where you are at. Providing as much information as possible helps the dispatcher to route the closest driver to you, helping to ensure you get help fast.
Stay in Your Vehicle, Keep Your Seat Belt On, and Keep Your Doors Locked
Lastly, be sure to stay in your vehicle with your seat belt on and the doors locked. Be wary of accepting help from strangers in isolated areas, especially at night-time. Remaining in the car with your seat belt on helps to keep you safe, as you are safer sitting in a car than you would be standing on a busy highway or on the shoulder of a busy street.
Roadside assistance is designed to provide you with the services you need, including helping to unlock locked keys in your car, jump-starting a dead battery, replacing or fixing a flat tire, or towing your vehicle to a repair shop. If you have not already invested in one, buying a roadside assistance plan can be beneficial, as you never know when you will encounter a problem that causes you to call a professional roadside assistance program for help.