What To Do While Waiting On A Busy Highway For A Mobile Tire Repair Service
If you are waiting on the highway for a mobile tire service technician to fix a flat tire, you must take the necessary precautions to keep yourself and your vehicle safe. When you break down on the side of the highway, you pose a risk to other cars, and they pose a severe threat to you!
Take these precautions to protect your vehicle, yourself, and passersby while you wait:
Pull as Far Off on the Right Shoulder as Possible
US traffic laws state that you must pull off onto the right shoulder in emergency situations. While this is not always possible when your vehicle becomes disabled, it should always be your number one goal.
Park as far from traffic as you can. Especially when changing a tire, you do not want to be close to passing traffic or in the center divider of a busy freeway. If you pulled off to the left but your car can safely be moved, move it over to the right shoulder.
Be as Obvious to Passing Vehicles as Practical
Once your car is safely out of danger, it's vital to keep it that way! To do so, your goal is to make your vehicle as obvious to passersby as possible.
This can be done by:
- Putting out road flares
- Propping up the hood
- Turning on the car's emergency hazard lights
If you blow a tire on a busy highway, it is always a good idea to give the local police or highway patrol a call to let them know about your situation. An officer may need to park behind you with their lights flashing to prevent someone from accidentally rear-ending your car.
Even if law enforcement's presence isn't necessary, notifying them of your presence is helpful if a good samaritan reports the situation before the tire technician arrives.
Stay in Your Vehicle
It would be best if you never got out of your vehicle on a busy highway unless it is essential. Many people are killed by passing cars every year because they decide to leave their vehicles and walk on a busy freeway.
You are infinitely safer sitting in your vehicle with your seatbelt on than walking around fast cars with drivers who are not expecting pedestrians.
Never Accept a Ride from a Stranger
Finally, it bears mentioning you should never accept a ride from anyone other than law enforcement or the mobile tire technician if they cannot fix your tire. Error on the side of caution and wait for professional assistance! Unfortunately, not everyone who would stop for someone in trouble is safe, and you don't have any way of knowing until a bad situation happens.
For help repairing your flat or towing your car somewhere safe, contact a mobile tire repair service in your area.