Roadside Safety – 101

It’s never fun to have car issues and be stuck on the side of the road. No one has time for that. Seems we are all always in a hurry and being on the side of the road is never on the list and can be flat out annoying. If you do get stuck, make sure to be and stay as safe as possible. Your safety and the safety of those in the car should be your main concern.  

Here’s a few tips to help when you are up against a roadside annoyance… I mean emergency:

1. Move as far away from the road as possible.  If at all possible, look for an emergency lane, exit, rest stop or a parking lot.  You never want to pull over or stop in hard to see places like over hills, bridges, blind corners and narrow roads. If none of these are an option, at least try to get to the right shoulder and out of the flow of traffic.  

2. Turn your hazard’s on. This will help alert other drivers to move over if possible.

3. Stay in your car until you’re out of traffic. Do not get out of your car if you are stuck in traffic.  In this situation, stay in your car and wait for Roadside Assistance. (We’ll talk about that in a bit.)

4. Get out of your vehicle.  Only if the coast is clear and you can exit safely, then get out of the car. Whatever side has the least or no traffic is the side you want to pick to exit on. You are better off climbing over to the passenger side and getting out that way if there’s heavy traffic on the driver’s side.

5. Set flares out or reflective triangles. This will make you more visible to oncoming traffic. If you don’t have flares or reflective triangles, you can raise the hood of your car to indicate you are having car issue and could use some help.

6. Give Farmers Roadside Assistance a call. You can call Farmers Roadside Assistance 24/7 at 800-435-7764 and someone will be happy to get you help. It’s a good idea to put the number in your phone instead of having to track it down in an emergency situation.

7. Have an emergency supply kit in your car at all times. It’s always a good idea to be prepared. Always have a first aid kit in your car. A blanket, flashlight, snacks and some water are great things to keep on hand. Fix-a flat, tools and a spare tire could always come in handy if you blow out a tire or have a flat.

8. Stay calm. It won’t do anyone any good to panic. Stay calm and follow the steps above and all will be fine.

In a roadside emergency it is key to keep yourself and anyone in your vehicle safe. Follow these steps and you should be just fine.