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Safety Tips For a Roadside Breakdown

September 15, 2014 Hastings and Hastings

Safety Precautions To Consider When Experiencing A Roadside Breakdown

Today’s modern vehicles are more reliable and more dependable than ever before. However, breakdowns still occur more frequently than most people might imagine. With that said, understanding a few safety precautions can go a long way in reducing the stress and dangers associated with a roadside breakdown. For example, moving a vehicle off of the road and safely away from traffic is a commonsense strategy that should be one of the first and most important considerations.

Emergency Services

A good safety precaution when experiencing a roadside breakdown is to always keep car doors locked and windows rolled up. The only time a window should be rolled down is to communicate with someone passing by to request that they call the police or other emergency services. This is a good strategy to consider especially when breaking down in an unfamiliar area. While the crime rate varies from region to region, being conservative and playing it safe is a good rule of thumb.

Move As Far Away From The Road As Possible

Conversely, when it is absolutely essential to exit a car to seek help it is better to travel in a group. Three or four people on foot traveling together are far safer than an individual traveling alone. If a vehicle breaks down on the road and cannot be moved off of the roadway it is always advisable to have passengers exit the vehicle and move as far away from the road as possible. This is an important consideration because a broken down vehicle may be impacted by another vehicle passing by on the road.

Reflective Triangles Or Flares

This can ultimately result in serious injuries that would otherwise be avoided. Finally, one of the best ways to alert other drivers of a vehicle breakdown is to simply raise the vehicle’s hood. Another useful strategy in this regard is to tie a white cloth to one of the door handles of the vehicle. In addition, some vehicles are equipped with emergency kits that have reflective triangles or flares available. When using warning devices always place them far enough away from a vehicle to give traffic enough advanced warning. Contact Hastings and Hastings today for Phoenix personal injury claim filing if you have been injured due to the negligence of another individual.