Cars are machines that can break down anywhere and at any time without any warning. Vehicles are very unpredictable and when they are not maintained properly, chances of these vehicles breaking down in the middle of a commute increase.
It is very important to maintain and keep an eye on the service schedule of the vehicle because this is something that can either improve your vehicle’s durability or end the vehicle’s life prematurely. The proper maintenance of the car becomes even more vital because otherwise many vital parts of your cars will die.
If your car breaks down in the middle of the road, you will be stranded before help comes. Women, especially, feel stranded and helpless in these situations and they have to stand back while they wait for someone else to come and help them.
However, you don’t have be helpless and, if the situation allows it, you don’t have to wait for someone to come and help you. There are some things that you can do that will not only help you in such situations, but help you avoid such situations as well.
There are some tips that work and if you keep them in your mind, you can avoid many unwanted events. Here are the tips that will help avoid car break downs and help you if your car breaks down. Keep them in your mind while you are driving somewhere because a car can break down anytime
Check Your Vehicle You Begin Your Journey
Before you take the car out of the garage, you should check your car for any signs of trouble. It is always better to be safe than sorry, so you should be cautious and check your car before you leave the safety of the garage. Whenever you are planning on driving your car, you should check for any potential damage.
You should always check the engine, the car tyres and you should always look for oil leaks. They might not appear to be some major issues, but they will definitely create major problems for you if you don’t take care of them before you take the car out.
Ideally, you should maintain a proper service schedule because that will help you stay on top of any situation that may or may not occur. A properly maintain car breaks down less often than a car that does not follow the recommended service schedule.
In this way, you will be taking care of the issues before they appear or become uncontrollable. Sometimes car parts are destroyed because the vehicle was not following the proper service schedule and there are many parts that are too expensive to replace.
In case you check your car and your car still breaks down, then here are some things that you should do to stay safe.
Get Off the Road
When your car breaks down, your first priority should be your safety. The first thing that you should do is move your car off of the road and park it at the side of the road. This is something that you would have to do the moment you realize your car is breaking down.
You should immediately start moving your car towards the shoulder of the road so that you are out of the way of the approaching vehicles. Even if there is something seriously wrong with the car, it will not just die immediately, you will still have some momentum to guide your car off the road.
Once you are safely out of the way, engage the safety brake and turn the steering wheel away from the road so that your car down not roll back on to the road and in to the oncoming traffic. Once you are parked safely, you should turn the car’s hazard lights so that people know you are in trouble and in need of assistance.
Also read: Simple DIY Car Fixes that can help You Save Time and Money
Carry a Gas Can
Sometimes, your car will stop because you have run out of fuel. If this is the case with you, then the gas can you are carrying with you will be the perfect remedy for your problem. If you have a spare gas can, you can lock your car and go to the nearest gas station and have fuel in your car in no time.
However, you need to be cautious about crossing the road and properly locking your car. Make sure that you close all the windows and doors properly, including the trunk hatch so that your vehicle is sealed properly before you leave.
Call for Help
If fuel is not your issue, it is best that you call for help. This is definitely the best and the most efficient way of getting help in such circumstances. You should call a mechanic or any road side assistance company, if you don’t have any such company in the vicinity, you should at least call a family member or a friend to help you out.
In case you have road flares, you should take them out, light them up and place them fifty feet away from your car. This will help you get the attention of the people so that any oncoming car can see that you need help.
Never Leave Your Car Alone
You should never leave your car alone when you cannot drive it away. It becomes imperative that you stay with your vehicle when you have called for road assistance. Also, you should always remain inside your vehicle or close to it so that you don’t get into an accident.
Don’t Take Things in Your Own Hands
Here is the thing, you might be tempted to take things in your own hands so that you can fix things and go on your way. It is all good if you know what you are doing, but if you don’t have any prior experience with fixing your car, you should stay away from it and wait for the professional to come and do it for you.
If you have experience fixing cars, you should go right ahead and solve the problem and be on your way. However, if you don’t have any prior experience, it is better to wait for a few hours if you have to rather than intensifying the issue.
Be Vary of Strangers
You need to be vary of strangers and make sure that you don’t simply trust anyone. You should take help from the people who you feel safe with and if at any time you feel like you are in danger or don’t feel comfortable, you should simply remain in your car, lock the doors and close the windows.
Don’t come out of the car if you don’t feel comfortable and you should always call for help when you feel like you need it. This is the reason why, it is always better to call for help from a friend rather than a stranger because you can trust your friends and family.
These are some things that can help you when your car breaks down. Keep them in your mind and make sure that you have the necessary numbers in your phone before you leave your house. This is one way to make sure that you are never stranded and have help on the way when you need it.
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