Safety Tips to Remember When Your Car Breaks Down
By Fei Lim

Most people at some point in their life end up dealing with a car breakdown or a flat tire along the way. This can be a very frustrating and scary time, especially if you have not carefully planned out what to do if this happens to you. One of the worst problems today is with basic safety when you break down on the side of the road. It is important that you know exactly what to do to keep yourself and anyone else with you safe in the event of a car breakdown. The following are some safety tips that you should remember if your car should leave you hanging on the side of the road.

Safety Tip #1 - Get Out of Traffic - The very first thing to keep in mind when you break down is to make sure that you get your vehicle out of traffic. Leaving your car in the middle of traffic can be very dangerous and may result in a vehicle accident. Do your best to get your car as far off the road as possible. Once you do get your car out of the way, you will want to make sure that you make it evident that you are stopped to the cars around you. Turn on your four-ways to make sure that you warn the other cars before they get to where you are at.

Safety Tip #2 - Stay in the Car as Much as Possible - When you break down on the road, one of your first instincts may be to get out of the car; however, as a general rule you will be safer if you stay inside the vehicle. You may need to get out if you have a flat tire, but if the problem is something more than you can take care of yourself, you are safer inside your car. If you stand outside trying to flag people down you may accidentally be hit by someone driving by who does not see you. You will also want to be careful, since some people may try to take advantage of you while you are broke down.

Safety Tip #3 - Something White - In order to let others know that you have a vehicle problem, you will want to tie something white to your radio antenna or hang something white from your car window. This lets people know that you are having a car problem and that you have not just stopped for a break or to get out and view the scenery. If a police car or a tow truck goes by and sees your car with the white piece of cloth, they will be sure to stop and give you a hand with your problem.

Safety Tip #4 - Call for Help - If you have a cell phone, you should always be sure that you take it with you when you are traveling. When you have a cell phone, it makes it very easy for you to call someone to help you. This saves you the trouble of getting out of your car or relying on someone else for help. If you do not have a cell phone with you, you may be able to find call boxes on the interstate that will allow you to call someone for help.

Safety Tip #5 - Do Not Accept a Ride - Unless you know the person extremely well, it is best if you do not accept a ride from anyone you do not know. If someone stops to help or wants to give you a ride, kindly ask them to call the police instead. There are people who may take advantage of your situation, so stay with your car and never ride away with anyone that you do not know.

While breaking down in your car can be a harrying experience, knowing the right car safety tips can help to keep you safe. Keeping these safety tips in mind can help you make sure that you do not become a victim in your time of distress. At some point in time you will probably have a break down, so make sure you are prepared and you know what to do and how to keep yourself and your family safe.