As stressful and shocking as it can be when your car breaks down, you can always rely on roadside assistance. Thanks to the ubiquity of cell phones, it’s never been easier to get in touch with a towing company. However, once you’ve contacted them, there are a few tasks to do to stay safe while you wait for them to arrive.

Do:

Pull over to a safe spot.

Whenever possible, once you start noticing the car malfunctioning, drive to a safe area. On the highway, aim for the right shoulder of the road; on residential streets, try to get to a parking space. Always make sure you’re in full view of oncoming traffic, so avoid parking around curves.

Let other drivers know your situation.

Once you’ve pulled over to a safe location, turn on the hazard lights. This will let drivers know you’re not moving. Keep these lights on until roadside assistance arrives. 

Use flares or road triangles.

If you have flares or road triangles, place them around the car to further increase visibility. The general guideline is to use them at 10 and 100 feet behind the car and 100 feet in front of it.

Don’t:

Exit your car in the middle of traffic.

In the event that the car breaks down in the middle of the road and you cannot safely pull it over to a safe spot, stay inside until the traffic clears. If it’s still too busy, just make sure the hazard lights are on and continue to stay put.

Forget to ask for documentation.

Never accept a ride or a tow from strangers. Wait for the towing company you’ve called and when they arrive, ask for proper documentation to confirm their identity. If they are who they claim, they’ll have right the paperwork.

Leave your valuables inside.

If you need to leave the vehicle or it ends up requiring extensive repairs and must be taken to an auto body shop, remove what you can and take it with you. This will prevent anything from being stolen. 

If the car breaks down and you require roadside assistance in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, call Nieman’s Service at (715) 423-4250. They’re available 24/7, every day of the year. This tow truck and auto locksmith company has more than 70 years of experience in vehicle recovery and car lockouts. To learn more about their services, visit their website.