shutterstock_121178299smIt can happen at any time, and if you’ve experienced a breakdown, you know that it always seems to happen at the worst possible time. It can happen in private and commercial vehicles, to experienced or inexperienced drivers. You’re driving along at 65 miles per hour  and suddenly hear a strange noise, your tire runs flat, your steering wheel vibrates, or your vehicle simply loses speed.  Regardless of the symptom or cause, follow these ten tips if it happens to you.

  1. Look for the safest spot on the shoulder and pull over. Stay calm and focused. (If you have a flat tire and use run-flat tires, slow down and determine if you can safely continue, at a reduced speed, to a rest area or service station.)
  2. Once stopped, turn on your hazard lights, engage your emergency break, and turn your wheel toward the side of the road to ensure that your vehicle will not roll or be pushed into traffic.
  3. Stay in your vehicle, especially if there is heavy traffic and limited visibility.
  4. Determine your location. This can be done with GPS. If that’s not available, use landmarks such as road signs, exit numbers, buildings, rest areas, or cell phone towers.
  5. Call for help. This can include roadside assistance, local police, or 911. For those without cell phones, consider a pay-as-you-go phone for your glove compartment or an emergency GPS locator, which often costs just a few dollars a month.
  6. Increase visibility beyond your hazard lights. If you can safely exit your vehicle and have roadside flares available, place them approximately 50 feet behind your car. You can also raise your hood to alert motorists that your vehicle is inoperative.
  7. Stay with your vehicle. If you’ve called for roadside service, you need to be present when help arrives. If you get out of your vehicle, stay away from the traffic flow. It’s also important to note that walking along a highway is dangerous. Many people are killed each year while walking beside busy roads.
  8. Don’t pretend to be a mechanic. If you have little or no experience identifying engine issues or changing a tire, proceed with extreme caution. It can be challenging to change a tire in your driveway, and doing so beside a busy highway is extremely difficult and dangerous. Before considering this, it’s best to wait for the police to arrive. They will help you determine if it’s safe to change your tire and can slow down traffic if you decide to do this.
  9. If you decide to leave your vehicle, exit through the door that is facing away from traffic. Don’t wander away from your vehicle without a plan. For example, it may be reasonable to exit your vehicle if you’re on a quiet road and a service station is a short distance away, but it’s dangerous if you’re on a dark and busy roadway that is miles from the next exit.
  10. Use caution when dealing with strangers. Though this sounds obvious, common sense is often diluted when you’re emotional or frustrated. If a stranger pulls over and offers a ride, your best course of action is to remain in the car with the doors locked. Help is likely on the way. Exercise patience while waiting for it to arrive.

These tips are brought to you by DriverCheck, creator of the How’s My Driving program. DriverCheck’s online training solutions help thousands of companies in North America reduce collision rates by identifying and counseling at-risk drivers before they have a collision. Click here to learn more.