 If you do break down and need to get a tow there are some simple tips to make the experience more pleasurable. 1. Get safe. Try to get off the road as far as possible. Put your hazard lights on. Don’t leave doors etc open. Either sit in the car with doors closed or sit a safe distance away out of the way of traffic. Do not sit beside or under the car. If you are a woman alone you may choose to lock yourself in the car.
2. Assess the situation. Take some notes. What did you hear, what did you smell, was there smoke or steam or can you see fluids on the road behind you, did the car handle differently? Have a look. Walk around and see what has changed. Are the wheels loose or wonky? Is there oil anywhere? Are there any bits hanging off? 3. Where are you? Is there a street sign? Is there a landmark? Can google maps on your phone tell you? 4. Your phone is your friend. Take photos. Voice record or type up your notes. Do you have phone service? How much battery is left? 5. Call for help. I love my RACQ membership. Join your roadside assistance equivalent. If you aren’t a member call them anyway. It will cost you more than a member but it will be worth it. Tell them about the situation. The notes of the incident that I talked about in point 2. Tell them who is in the car - kids and pets. If you are a woman traveling alone or if you weren’t able to get the vehicle to a safe spot off the road tell them so they can make you a priority. 6. Do not leave the vehicle. If you have children or pets make sure they are cool, comfortable and safe from passing traffic. Find a shady tree or chill in the car. Keep your keys and valuables on you. 7. While I wait for the tilt tray tow truck I like to take photos and post them to social media. In particular I take photos of anyone who stops to help me. This is mostly so if something happens there is a record or who and when. 8. If for any reason you leave the vehicle tell someone. Leave a note with the car with the time of your departure, the destination, the mode of transport (walk, lift with passerby etc), when you expect to return and how to contact you. 9. When the tilt tray arrives introduce yourself. Explain what happened using your notes from point 2. Take your handbag or essential / valuable items out of the car. Leave all other luggage in the car. Give the tilt tray driver your keys. Then stay out of the way while they load the car. Often they will be happy for you to sit in the air conditioned cab of the truck while they load the car. The driver is a trained professional and the most useful thing you can do is to get out of their way. So stay out of their way and make their job easier by keeping pets and children out of their way too. These are some simple practical tips but of course every situation will be different so please use common sense and stay safe.
8 Comments
26/7/2019 03:44:20 am
I like how you mentioned that you should inspect your car when it breaks down so you can see if you notice any damages. My uncle's truck is very old, and he is worried that it will break down someday. I'll let him know that he should inspect his truck and call a towing service if it ever breaks down. 30/7/2019 05:47:54 am
I like what you said about making sure you're safe when waiting for a tow. My friend's car often breaks down in inconvenient places. I'd also imagine that it's important to contact a reliable towing service so that you're not stranded. 30/7/2019 01:25:27 pm
Thanks for the feedback. I never bother to research reputable towing companies - I simply have a membership with RACQ for roadside assistance and they provide reputable towing when I need it. Each state in Australia has a similar service. I highly recommend membership - for about $150 per year the peace of mind is well worth it. 25/6/2021 02:41:07 pm
I appreciated it when you shared that it is great to get off the road as far as possible and put your hazard lights on if your car breaks down. My friend just mentioned the other day that she is going on a road trip next week with her friends but she is worried about her car as she forgot to send it for service last month. I will suggest to her to find a reliable roadside assistance in case anything happens. 27/10/2021 09:41:45 am
I like how you mentioned that you must assess the situation after the breakdown have a look around and see what has changed on your vehicle. I have experienced a vehicle breakdown last week and it cause me too much hassle for having any idea what is the best option to do. Thanks to this informative article and I'll be sure to contact breakdown towing in the future. 26/1/2022 08:46:57 pm
Always make it a point to park your automobile in a place where it does not generate traffic and potential hazard, depending on the situation. In the event of a collision, it may be difficult to maneuver your vehicle to a safer location, but you must take the initiative to keep a safe distance for the time being. Switch on your danger lights and use cones or flares to make yourself apparent to approaching motorists. Parking in an uphill area, on roads with blind curves, or in other dangerous areas is a bad idea. 27/7/2022 12:55:08 pm
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Lara Wilde
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