Breaking down is many people’s worst nightmare and it can completely ruin your day. Having to pull your car over to the side of the road and wait in the rain for help is not what you expect to be doing when you set off on your journey.
Aside from being an unenjoyable and embarrassing experience, a breakdown can be costly, whether you have a fuel-based or electric vehicle. If it has been caused by an underlying issue in your car, you could end up spending hundreds getting it fixed.
If your vehicle has never broken down before, you might have no idea how to deal with it. But knowing what to do when your car breaks down can save you a lot of time if and when it happens.
Here are some top tips on what you should do in the event of a breakdown.
Move Your Car to the Side of the Road
Whether you’re driving on a main road, side road, or motorway, your priority must be to get your car out of the road. Put your hazard lights on and move your vehicle to the side of the road or the hard shoulder.
Once your car is safely out of the way of other vehicles, everybody should vacate the car. If you’re traveling with animals, keep them safe in the car.
It’s not always possible to push your vehicle onto the hard shoulder if you’re driving on the motorway. If this is the case, stay in the car with your seatbelt fastened, put your hazard lights on, and call the emergency services.
Call Your Breakdown Provider
Many people try and wave down a passing car in the hopes that the driver will be able to help. Many people carry a pair of vehicle boosting cables in their cars that can be used to jump-start other vehicles.
However, it isn’t always possible to flag somebody down. Even if you do, there’s no guaranteeing that they will have the right equipment to get your car started again.
If you have a breakdown provider, now is the time to call them. You will need the details of your vehicle and your location. If you aren’t sure where you are, try to find significant landmarks that you can point out to the person on the phone.
Once you have called your breakdown provider, sit and wait. Don’t try to repair anything or move your car elsewhere. You have to be patient and stay put!
If you don’t have a mobile phone with you, try and walk to the nearest emergency phone. These will be clearly defined and they should be placed at regular intervals along the highway.
Your breakdown provider may take 30 minutes or they may take several hours to reach you. When they arrive, they will l fix your car by the side of the road and help you to get going.
If you’re returning to a busy motorway, you’ll need to build up your speed on the hard shoulder so that you can safely merge back in with the oncoming traffic.
