What To Do When Stranded At the Side Of the Road

There is nothing worse than going on a trip and the car breaking down at the side of the road. This is one of the most unexpected things to happen, but it’s always a risk when you’re behind the wheel of a car. The good news, though, is that you don’t have to be stranded at the side of the road.

Before you go on a road trip or any long journey, you should get your car checked or use a service like TCS Upfitting to check over everything for you. You shouldn’t let yourself get stuck if you can help it, and you should have a happy journey as a result of being smart about it. You can get yourself moving once again and the best way to do it is to follow the tips below.

1. Get The Car To The Shoulder. Moving the car to the side of the road is a smart thing to do. You want to make sure that you are out of the way of other cars, and so getting your car to one side and out of the hitting range is a good idea! Aim to be 2 feet away from the roadway as this gives you enough space for a pickup truck to come and get you.
2. Wave Your Flag. It doesn’t matter the material, it just needs to be white. Hang it from the window of the car and show drivers that your vehicle is in distress. This will attract the attention of other drivers and emergency services, and then you can be given as much room as possible while you are stuck to one side! It can be anything white, as long as you can show others you’re stuck – you should also pop the hazard lights on, too.
3. Exit To The Shoulder. It’s a good idea to get out of the car and wait by the side of the road, but it’s not a good idea to get out of the car toward oncoming traffic. Get out of the passenger side and wait on the grassy verge as you make a call to the roadside assistance.
4. Get Everyone Out. All passengers in the car also need to get out just in case anyone hits the car on their way past. Make sure that they, too, exit on the passenger side of the vehicle. Again, being away from traffic is just smart and it keeps everyone safe.
5. Night Flares. Lighting up the night with flares needs to be done safely, especially if you are stuck on the side of the road. Flares can let people know of your presence, and if you don’t have flares, use the brightest cones you can find.
6. Get Help. Call for people to come and jump-start or fix your car. Emergency fixes are a must – and you can use the right service for your particular car!
7. Get Comfortable. No matter how long you have to wait, you need to get the emergency pack out of your car to stay warm under the blanket and drink water to stay hydrated. Use your phone to call a friend or family member, too!