Woman And Wheels Automotive website dedicated to women
It’s a situation we never have to live or deal with. Having a flat tire for exemple, or a mechanical problem, that leaves us stranded on the side of the road. Should it happen however, the first and most important thing is not to panic. Then, follow these few steps that will get you back on the road in no time.
Thank you to Hamilton Volvo for their help with this article.
Move your vehicle to a safe spot
Depending on the situation, you want to move to certain areas of the road in order to get out of the way of other vehicles and make sure you are safe. If you are on the highway, make sure you go to the right side, never the left, and get as far away as possible from other vehicles. You should avoid going to the left if you can as other cars will not expect a vehicle on the left shoulder.
If you are on a road that does not have a shoulder, or your vehicle is no longer moving, stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on, your windows closed and your doors lock unless there are absolutely no vehicles on the road, and follow the steps on how to make sure you are visible.
Make sure you are visible
At the very least, you want to turn on your hazard lights. Also, think about buying an emergency triangle that you can use to tell other cars that you have a problem. Some new vehicles come with an emergency triangle from the factory. You can also open the hood of your car to be even more visible (althought you should only do this if you are able to exit your vehicle safely).
Call or signal for help
If you have a cellphone, call 911. Or, if your vehicle has such a system, you can use its emergency assistance service. If you do not have a way of communicating, try and signal other drivers that you would like them to stop.
Again, the important thing is not to panic and to make sure you are safe first and foremost.
