What to Do if Your Car Breaks Down in Grand Prairie, TX; Pull Out of Traffic, Call for Roadside Assistance & More

Though you may never have to deal with such an inconvenience as a vehicle breakdown in your entire life, it is best to be prepared. It is ideal to have an emergency roadside kit. The kit should include signaling devices (road flares or triangles), a flashlight, and a first aid kit at the very least. If you want to be extra prepared, consider also it is wise to always have a few bottles of water in your car, non-perishable food items, and perhaps a couple of jackets or a blanket in case your vehicle breaks down on a winter night. Today, we at Citywide Towing Service would like to list step-by-step what you should do in the event of a breakdown.

What Should You Do if Your Car Breaks Down on the Side of the Road?

1) Pull Out of Traffic. If at all possible, avoid being stranded in the middle lane of a highway or in any lanes. To the right shoulder or into a parking lot is where you want to find a way to pull your vehicle over, ideally. Separating yourself from oncoming vehicles is the goal. When your vehicle stalls out, there are likely to be many things going through your head. No matter what, you need to stay calm and in control. It is recommended to pull over on a flat road. You need your vehicle to be seen by oncoming vehicles. As opposed to being blindsided by one when coming up a hill or not being able to slow down for one coming down a hill, it is easiest to see a broken-down vehicle straight ahead.
2) Promptly Flip on the Hazard Lights. Turn your hazard lights on after you pull over. You want oncoming vehicles to notice your car. Turn them on even if it’s daytime.
3) Contact Emergency Roadside Assistance. Call for help as soon as you get your vehicle to a safe location. You want to limit the time in which you are stranded, and other safety precautions are important. The less safe the situation becomes, the longer you are stranded. It is in your better interest to call for a towing service. Whether it be your home or an auto repair facility, a towing company will board your car safely and take it to your desired location. The towing expert should have a few recommendations, if you have no clue where to take it. Maybe all your vehicle needs are a jumpstart, so they can help with roadside assistance, or provide a tow.
4) Strategically Set Up Hazard Devices. Space flares or triangles you have apart evenly. Place one about 10 feet behind your vehicle, one 30 feet behind, and one 50 feet behind if you have three road flares. To give proper notice to oncoming vehicles, they need to be spread out far enough as well as closely enough to where oncoming vehicles know why they are there. Popping your hood is a telltale sign of a vehicle breakdown too.
5) Wait for Assistance. Whether you want to stay in your vehicle while help is on the way, it is up to you and your surroundings. Remaining in your vehicle is safer, generally speaking. Being in it makes you less vulnerable to external factors such as unfriendly weather and you still have your vehicle to protect. There should be no issues with waiting outside your car or walking into a local store as long as your car is in sight if you are in a well populated neighborhood area.

Towing Service, Roadside Assistance & More in Addison, Balch Springs, Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Cockrell Hill, Combine, Coppell, DeSoto, Farmers Branch, Ferris, Garland, Glenn Heights, Grapevine, Highland Park, Hutchins, Lancaster, Lewisville, Ovilla, Richardson, Rowlett, Sachse, Seagoville, Sunnyvale, University Park, Wilmer, Wylie, Duncanville, Grand Prairie, Arlington, Irving, Mesquite & Greater Dallas, Texas

Whether you need roadside assistance or towing services in the Greater Dallas, Texas area, call in the professionals of Citywide Towing Service.

Call Now Button