What To Do When Your Vehicle Breaks Down
How to handle roadside safety
If your vehicle breaks down, the following tips can help get you through this event safely:
- Turn on your hazard lights.
- Stay calm — it can be frustrating and scary when your vehicle breaks down — take a few moments to gather your composure.
- Pull over to the side of the road, if possible.
- If you are unable to exit a highway, pull over to the right side of the road. Move your vehicle as far away from oncoming traffic as possible.
- Shut off your vehicle.
- Exit the car on the non-traffic side and raise the hood to alert other drivers that your vehicle is inoperable.
- Stand away from the car when calling roadside assistance. Do not stand in front of your vehicle — if your car is sideswiped, it could move forward and cause injury.
- If you have a roadside emergency kit, carefully place flares or reflective triangles in safe locations around your car to alert oncoming vehicles — do not place them too close to your vehicle or flammable debris.
- If you do not have a cell phone, and it is safe, walk to a nearby public place for help while keeping your eye on traffic and remaining alert. Do not cross a freeway or highway.
- Do not try to repair your vehicle on the side of the road even if you have flares or reflective warning devices.
NJM Insurance Group’s Commitment to Safety
NJM’s enduring commitment to safety can be traced back to our earliest days — with a focus that has expanded from improving conditions in manufacturing facilities to helping keep customers safe on the roads and at home. NJM is a leader in personal and commercial auto, homeowners, and workers’ compensation insurance.
References:
“What To Do When Your Vehicle Breaks Down,” https://exchange.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/AAA-What-To-Do-When-Your-Vehicle-Breaks-Down.pdf.
“What To Do in a Roadside Emergency,” https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2012/02/what-to-do-in-a-roadside-emergency/index.htm, (November 25, 2015).