What to do when your vehicle breaks down without warning
We’re all well aware that before we head out on any trip, regardless of distance and direction, we must give our vehicles a cursory check. Moreover, anyone who has respect for the money they’ve invested in their vehicle will ensure that it is regularly serviced and maintained. However, cars being what they are, which is to say mechanical beasts, things can, and inevitably will, go wrong.
So what is a driver to do when they find themselves at the mercy of the machine Gods and stuck on the side of a busy highway? Well, this article won’t give you step-by-step instructions on how to make roadside repairs, but it will provide you with the lowdown on some basic steps you can take to get yourself to safety and hopefully get your car to a garage where more extensive repairs can be carried out.
Stay calm and assess the situation
It’s very easy to write about the need to remain calm while writing this post in the comfort of one’s own home, but it’s another thing entirely when you’re stuck on the side of a road with fast-moving traffic and are as handy with a spanner as you might be doing neurosurgery.
Nevertheless, when we suggest remaining calm, we are really discussing the need to think about your situation and the steps you need to take, and in what order. For most, this involves ensuring your safety and the vehicle’s location, turning off the engine, then calling an emergency towing service to rescue you, and finally, exiting your car and moving to a safe place away from the oncoming traffic. By taking these simple steps, you will ensure that you’ll avoid making erratic decisions that could endanger yourself or other road users.
Turn On Hazard Lights Immediately
Turning on your hazards is pretty much rule 101 when it comes to safe breakdown procedure. These lights flash your indicators on and off at regular intervals, and warn other road users of your predicament. This allows them to take a wider berth than usual, and also makes sure that the roadside assistance can spot you from further away and begin to make preparations to approach and park.
Perform a cursory inspection of what the cause might be
If possible, and you can do so without endangering yourself, it might be a good idea to exit your car and perform a cursory inspection of what might have gone wrong. If you’re even the slightest bit aware of how cars operate, you might be able to fix the issue yourself, so you can carry on and get yourself to a garage that can resolve the problem. Obviously, this will depend on your mechanical expertise. If you can’t find where to fill up the washer fluid, you can probably skip this step and wait for the pros to meet you.
It’s never fun when you find your car shuddering to a halt. Not only do you worry about the cost of repairs, but you also need to consider what actions are necessary right here and now. The suggestions here are only few, but they should give you an idea of what to expect and the processes involved.
