If you spend any length of time at all in your car, it makes good, practical sense to prepare for the possibility of your car breaking down at some point.
If it doesn’t happen, consider yourself fortunate. But if it does, you will feel fortunate indeed that you planned ahead. Planning won’t erase the anxiety of a car breakdown, but it may spare you from having one of a different kind. Take a two-step, proactive approach to a car breakdown:
Prepare for the worst
- Purchase a roadside emergency kit. It should include a first aid kit, water, jumper cables, a flashlight and extra batteries, blankets, duct tape, tow rope, gloves and rags. Also ensure that it includes red warning reflectors and, if it doesn’t, purchase them separately so that you can warn oncoming motorists of your car breakdown.
- Keep some walking shoes in the back seat. Even if you have to traverse a rocky hill on a quick trip to the gas station, solid shoes can prevent a stumble, fall and even a personal breakdown that a pair of flimsy flip-flops could trigger.
- Keep your phone charger with you at all times. And if you’re not a member of an auto club, consider joining one. It can be a godsend, especially if you’re traveling far from home.
Deal with a car breakdown
If you experience car trouble, try to reach a gas station, restaurant or other public place at the nearest exit. If the problem is sudden and startling, like a tire blowout, steer your car off to the shoulder or as far into the right lane as possible. Then:
- Put your hazards light on and, if it’s dark, the cabin dome light, too.
- Exit your car carefully, and choose the passenger door if it appears safer. Place the reflective triangles behind your car.
- Decide whether you can safely make a quick repair yourself. If you cannot, call your auto club, if you’re a member. Many auto insurance companies also offer roadside assistance, check with your provider. Waiting for a tow is smarter and safer than attempting to make what you hope will be a quick fix in a hazardous environment.
- Raise the hood to signal other drivers that you need assistance. Do not risk your safety by attempting to flag people down.
- Wait inside your car for help to arrive. Never stand behind or next to your vehicle on the side of a road. And never try to outrun traffic by crossing a multi-lane highway on foot.
The single best way to prevent a car breakdown is to bring your car to one of the 19 dealerships at Valley Automall for an inspection/tuneup. A technician will evaluate your car from bumper to bumper, checking the fluids, belts, battery, oil and filter, tires and brakes. An inspection can alert you to problems and allow us to fix them. It’s no guarantee against a car breakdown, but it’s a type of insurance policy that just might prevent you from having a breakdown of another kind.