You never see a vehicle breakdown coming. You can have a rough idea if you have been neglecting an issue for a while, but you can never predict when that component is going to fail. That failure usually comes when you are on the highway, and your vehicle is under load.
It can be a tire giving way at high speed, or it can be something mechanical; either way, you will be stranded on the side of the road. In the event of a breakdown, it can be hard to think straight, which is why it can be beneficial to have a plan for what to do when such an eventuality occurs.
1. Call for Help
The first thing to do in the event of a breakdown is to pull off the road and make sure your vehicle is not posing a risk to any other driver on the road. Once your vehicle is out of the way and secure, you should call for help.
You will need to call a tow truck to help you move your vehicle off the highway. The tow truck can take your vehicle to a repair shop. However, It can take a while for help to get to you, so you should make that call as soon as possible.
2. Use Specific Services
There are many towing services available to help you on the side of the road. However, there are some limits to the services that they can provide. For heavy-duty applications, there is a need for a more capable towing vehicle.
There is also a need for an experienced driver to make sure that the load is secure. If you operate or manage heavy vehicles, Commercial Truck Towing Services can be your saving grace in the event of a breakdown.
3. Do Not Panic
No good can come from a situation where you start to panic. You tend to make bad decisions and forget things in a state of panic, which can lead to oversights. You can really get hurt on the side of the road if you start to panic.
You can forget things like securing your vehicle and putting out signs. This can lead to a situation where a distracted driver can collide with you and cause a wreck. Staying calm in such a situation can save your life and the lives of others.
4. Make Safety a Priority
Staying safe in the event of a breakdown should be your number one priority. If you notice your vehicle starting to have problems, you should not wait for it to have a complete breakdown; instead, you should pull into the nearest service area.
If a service area is not available nearby, then you should pull off the road as soon as possible to make sure that you are clearing it. Once you have stopped, you should secure your vehicle by using the hand brake or wheel chocks. Once stopped, you should put out high visibility signs to warn other drivers.
