It is certainly unnerving for your car to break down in a dark, unsafe part of town. You may feel extremely vulnerable for whoever may come your way. What do you do when this happens? Read about the following tips to keep you safe during a roadside emergency.
- Get off the road1
As soon as you detect something’s wrong with the car, start looking for a spot along the side of the road where you can park safely. You don’t want to stop in a lane and face the danger of cars possibly crashing into your car. The sooner you park, the better because you don’t want the car to run out of steam and still be stuck on the road.
- Try your best to park safely1
It may be challenging to find an ideal spot to park because there is not much space between the edge of the road and the yellow line on some highways. If you can still manage to exit a freeway, even better. Even though you may have had a tyre blow-out, you can still travel slowly for a few kilometres to the nearest garage.
- Emergency numbers for a crisis1
Your mind doesn’t work too well when in crisis mode. It is best if you already have emergency numbers on your cell phone that you can quickly access. Make the first call to your insurer’s 24-hour emergency assist, who can send out a tow truck immediately. Alert your family and let them know what has happened.
- Make your car as visible as possible1
Once you have safely parked, you must make your car as visible as possible, especially if it is at night or in bad weather. You don’t want cars crashing into yours. Switch on the hazard lights and place a triangle or a cone behind your vehicle to warn approaching motorists.
- Think carefully before getting out of the car1
Your door will be next to the road, which may face oncoming traffic. If that’s the case, try and get out of the front passenger door that is away from the rushing traffic. If you are in an unsafe area, stay inside with doors locked and a safety belt on until assistance arrives. Avoid standing next to your car.
- Avoid talking to strangers1
Some strangers may stop to help, but you never know who is genuine and who is not. Lower your window slightly to talk to them but inform them that the tow truck is on its way.
- What about repairs on the side of the road?1
After a breakdown it is advisable to leave any repairs to a later time, unless it’s minor and can be fixed by the tow truck driver. It may be best to have the car towed to your home if it’s at night if your insurance provided agrees with this. At least it will be parked in a safe spot. The following working day, you can decide to have the car repaired at your choice of garage.
From the above, it is clear that 24-hour roadside assistance and towing is not a luxury in South Africa but a necessity. It can mean the difference between life and death. If you are not sure, contact your insurer to confirm if you have access to this essential service. If you are not insured, contact PMD to find out more about their affordable car insurance products.
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.
Source:
1https://www.defensivedriving.org/dmv-handbook/14-tips-for-roadside-emergency-safety/