What To Do If Your Car Breaks Down On The Highway

Having a car break down on the highway is a scary experience. You and your fellow passengers are especially vulnerable on highways that are under construction or when the shoulder isn’t wide enough to provide ample space between you and passing cars. 

7 Tips To Keep You Safe If Your Car Breaks Down On The Highway 

Here are the first steps to make yourself as visible as possible, protect yourself and other passengers, and get help ASAP. 

Turn on the hazard lights 

Turn the flashing hazard lights on the minute you suspect something is wrong. Those flashing red lights alert other drivers, and they will often slow down, pay attention, or even support you as you move to get your car off the road. 

Flashing lights also serve as a beacon to any passing police or highway patrol officers who move over to assist you. If they’ve already passed you or are heading in the opposite direction, officers who see flashing hazards are likely to radio other officers in the area who will be on the lookout for you. 

Get your car as removed from traffic as possible 

If you break down in peak traffic while at a stop, this may not be possible. Otherwise, you should get your vehicle as far off the road as possible. In some cases, your breakdown may mean the engine isn’t working. In that case, you can coast slowly, using the existing momentum to get your car as far to the right as possible. 

If your car is stopped: If your car is unable to move with engine power, or you've run out of coasting power, stay put and keep your hazards flashing. Do not get out or try to push your car off the highway.   

Once you’ve stopped, turn your tires in the opposite direction of the road (usually, this would be to the right when facing forward) and use the emergency brake. If someone does hit you, this ensures your car doesn’t end up moving back into the busy traffic lanes. 

Note your location 

Look at the signs, exit ramps, or other landmarks indicating where you are. These may be necessary when contacting a tow truck company or the police, who will need you to provide as specific of a location as possible. Your cell phone map and GPS should also be able to give you specific location markers to share with your helpers. 

Only exit if you have to 

In almost all cases, it is safer to remain inside your vehicle. Do not exit onto the highway side of the vehicle. The driver and passengers should use the passenger side doors to exit away from the flow of traffic. The Insurance Information Institute advises, “Never get out of the vehicle to make a repair or examine the damage on a busy highway. Get the vehicle to a safe place before getting out. If you've been involved in an accident, motion the other driver to pull up to a safe spot ahead.” 

Make your vehicle as visible as possible 

The more visible you are, the less likely you are to be hit by a car and to be found as quickly as possible by the tow truck company or anyone else you’ve called to help you. By now, you should already have your hazard lights flashing.  

Other things you can do to make yourself more visible are: 

• Pop the hood and raise it up to show you’ve broken down 
• Fly a flag or hang brightly colored shirts or jackets from the windows 
• Wear a vest or brightly colored shirt/jacket if you have to get out of the vehicle 
• Use cones, flares, and reflectors at 6-foot markers behind and alongside your vehicle 

You can purchase “Emergency breakdown kits” online, or we recommend visiting edmunds.com’s post, How to Create Your Own Roadside Emergency Kit, with the addition of brightly colored safety vests. These kits can easily be stored in the trunk of your car and are worth their investment when/if you need to use one. 

Sacrifice the tire or rim for safety 

So many drivers opt to stay in a dangerous place to “quickly put on the spare” because they don’t want to damage their tire or rim. Your tire is well worth sacrificing for your safety. Taking the risk of changing a tire in a dangerous or risky position is not worth it. Drive slowly on your rim that extra bit to get you to a safe spot before attempting any inspections or tire changes. 

Contact help via a tow truck or roadside assistance program 

Many car owners forget their car company may offer roadside assistance. Other roadside assistance programs, such as AAA, Good Sam, or OnStar, are very affordable. The annual premium is well worth the money spent if your car breaks down on a highway and you have their immediate support.  

These seven tips will keep you and your passengers safe while help is on the way. Are you reading this while experiencing a Bay Area breakdown? Contact J&T Towing Fairfield at (707) 356-4613. We pride ourselves on providing swift and safe assistance.

Here are some additional tips for what to do if you break down on the highway at night:

• Pull over as far to the right as possible and activate your hazard lights. Avoid stopping in a travel lane if possible.
• Stay in your vehicle with your seatbelt buckled and doors locked. This is safer than standing outside in traffic.
• Call for roadside assistance. JT Towing's number is 707-356-4613. Let them know your location, vehicle description, and the problem you're experiencing.
• If you don't have cell service, try to position your vehicle near an emergency call box located along highways. You can also tie a white cloth to your antenna or door handle to signal for help.
• If it's not too cold, you can open your hood to indicate trouble. Stay in the car though.
• Wait in your vehicle until help arrives. Do not attempt emergency repairs in a travel lane at night as you risk getting hit.
• Consider using reflective triangle warning devices or flashers to alert other drivers, but only exit your vehicle briefly to set them up if it's safe to do so.
• Run your hazard lights at night if your battery is still working. This helps other drivers see you more easily.

Staying calm, visible and inside your vehicle are the best things you can do if breaking down on a highway overnight until roadside assistance arrives.