It’s not uncommon to experience car trouble on the road, especially when you’re traveling at high speeds. While you will need to pull off the road and call for roadside assistance, it’s important to do this safely. Here are a few tips to help you pull over without endangering yourself on the highway.

4 Tips to Help You Pull Over Safely

1. Use the Vehicle’s Lights

As soon as you realize you need to pull over to wait for roadside assistance, you should activate the vehicle’s hazard lights. This will let other drivers know that you’re experiencing problems, so they will be prepared for you to slow down and change lanes. If it’s after dark, you should make sure your headlights are on and turn on the dome light inside the vehicle, since this will help other drivers spot you more easily.

2. Avoid Sudden Movements

The last thing you want to do in this situation is to make things worse. If you slam down on the brake pedal or make an unexpected swerve across lanes, you’ll be increasing the risk of causing an accident. Once you have your hazard lights on, other drivers will know you need to pull over to wait for roadside assistance, and they will make room for you. You’ll get to the side of the road more safely by gradually changing lanes and tapping your brakes to slow the vehicle. 

3. Pull as Far to the Right as Possible 

You should get as far away from traffic as possible while you wait for a tow truck. Many highways only provide a small shoulder, so you may have to park your vehicle in the grass, or on a gravel surface. Pulling over a few extra feet will help you keep your passengers safe and provide extra room for a mechanic or a tow truck driver to work. If you’re on a surface street, you can be safer by pulling into a parking lot or a driveway.

4. Exit the Vehicle

Even though you may have pulled far enough off of the road, you should ensure your safety by standing outside of the vehicle. Set the parking brake ahead of exiting the vehicle to ensure it will remain stationary if it is hit. Additionally, you and your passengers should stand on the side of the vehicle that’s away from the highway. This will provide you with a safer area to wait for help.

When you’re stranded on the side of a highway, you will need to depend on reliable roadside assistance. Platinum Towing and Transport LLC is a family-owned business and the owner has 20 years of towing experience. Servicing customers throughout St. Louis County, they offer towing for all types of vehicles, including providing heavy and flatbed towing services. You can contact them via their website, or by calling (314) 300-8694.