Your vehicle breaking down can be a disaster. It can strand you in the middle of nowhere, with no one around to help, while your phone is low on battery. What are you supposed to do in a scenario like that? You won’t know unless you make an action plan early on. 

Just like you should be able to recognise the signs of trouble, such as your tyre pressure going down or feeling a crack in the radiator, you should know how to handle a roadside breakdown before it ever happens. Here are just a few of the big reasons you should come up with such a plan right now. 

Pexels Image – CC0 Licence

So You Know ‘Breakdown Protocol’

If you’ve broken down, the main thing to do is let other drivers know about your predicament. To do that, put your hazards on and try to get the car off the main course of the road. You don’t want to cause further collisions if you can help it. A plan can help you ensure that. 

Note down the use of hazard lights. With these, you can flag someone down for help without needing to get out of or move away from your car. Make sure you put these on before safely shutting down your vehicle – trust us, this is for everyone’s protection! 

So You Don’t Put Yourself in Danger

If you’re in the middle of a breakdown and help doesn’t seem to be coming any time soon, you should add some other helpful actions to your breakdown plan that’ll help you to stay safe and comfortable. It’s not just about using your hazard lights, despite how important that is. 

You should also be aware of how to contact people, how to keep yourself warm if it’s cold out, and how to stay lit up and visible if it’s nighttime too. The less you feel in danger, the greater your chance of getting home again with your vehicle (mostly) intact.  

So You Already Have the Right Numbers

You’re going to need the number of a quality mechanic before you break down, as this will keep the process of getting fixed up and back behind the wheel a lot faster. You don’t want to be scouting out reliable car care right now, and the easier you make this decision from the get go, the less of an ordeal you’ll have to deal with. 

Make sure you know the number for your breakdown cover as well, which should be outlined either in your insurance or via a program you’ve signed up for independently. 

So You Have an Emergency Kit Available

An emergency kit should be in your car at all times, but without a plan outlining what goes in one, you might not remember to pack it at all. You can buy one of these for convenience, but it’s also quite easy to put one together too. 

You never know when you might break down. Put a plan together and stick to it. 

About the Author: John Loughran