Every year, there are 69 million vehicle breakdowns in the US. You might’ve gotten lucky and never had a breakdown yet, but it’s almost inevitable that it’ll happen to you someday.
And when it does, you want to be prepared. A sudden vehicle malfunction can be terrifying, especially if it renders your car undrivable in an instant.
But if you know what to do beforehand, you’ll have a better chance of handling the situation with a level head. And as a result, you’ll be a lot safer!
In this article, we’ll show you how to pull over safely in emergency situations.
Let Up on the Gas
When you’re panicking during a roadside emergency, your gut instinct is to pull over as quickly as possible, so you’ll put the pedal to the metal. But this can be dangerous! Just let up on the accelerator.
On the other hand, don’t slam on your brakes either. This might catch other drivers off-guard and create an accident with them.
Signal
See where you can pull over; the right shoulder is your best bet since the right lane is the slowest lane on a highway.
Then, put on your blinkers before you make your way over. It can also be helpful to put on your hazard lights so other drivers know to give you a wide berth.
Get off the Road as Much as Possible
Just because you’re on the shoulder doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in the clear.
Pull over as much as possible so there’s plenty of room between your vehicle and other cars on the road. That way, they won’t clip you.
Once you’re set, put the parking brake on to prevent your car from rolling away.
Make Yourself and Your Vehicle Clearly Visible
Other drivers won’t be expecting a vehicle that’s pulled over, much less a person standing on a shoulder. You want to make things as safe as possible, so make yourself visible!
Put on your car’s hazard lights and set down flares and flags if possible. Avoid standing close to traffic and your car; if it gets hit, you might be in harm’s way.
Call for Help
Once you’re sure you’re safe, then you should call for help from a towing company. Let them know about your car trouble and then wait in a safe spot until they arrive.
If possible, they can provide jumpstarts and tire changes. So you might not even need towing services!
Pull Over Safely in Case of Emergencies
When your car malfunctions, it can be a scary situation. But if you know how to pull over safely, then you’ll put yourself and others out of harm’s way.
From there, you should call someone for roadside assistance. If you’re in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, then count on Hollywood Towing to come to your aid. We’ve served the local area for over 10 years and we adhere to the highest standards in the industry.
If you need your car towed in Dallas-Forth Worth, then get in touch with us. We’re available 24/7.