Whether you have AAA or belong to an economically priced motor club that promises to help you at any time you are in need, it is just safer to be prepared for emergencies on your end. Like many other motorists, you probably would prefer it if someone else were to come out and fix your flat tire but the time that it can sometimes take for emergency roadside assistance to get to you can be quite excessive.
It could be because your car has become disabled in some distant and remote area, or in the event that all roadside assistance technicians are currently dispatched. Keeping a jump starter in the trunk of your vehicle, along with an entire emergency roadside kit will keep you safe, warm, out of danger, and potentially make it so that you can resolve any technical issues you are having with your vehicle on your own.
Basic Roadside Assistance Provisions
There is probably already a spare tire and a vehicle jacking device of some sort in the trunk area of your vehicle. Although those things can be helpful if you have a tire blowout, there are many kinds of roadside emergencies that you can find yourself in. At a minimum, you should be able to find a few bottles of water, a flashlight, blankets, a small toolkit, and jumper cables or jump starter box in the rear of your car for emergencies. If you’d like, put some snacks, a spare cell phone charger and a portable radio in your vehicle as well so that you are prepared for longer durations.
Tools Drivers Need During Roadside Emergencies
Not all motorists are capable of changing their spark plugs or even doing much more than opening the hoods of their cars, but there are also many times when having the right tools can provide the solution that you need. In the event that your car battery dies, you can either wait to have it towed, hope that emergency roadside assistance personnel can jump your car, or you can charge your battery yourself. A jump starter will be needed for you to recharge the dead cells in your car’s battery, but this type of tool is exceedingly easy to operate, even for an inexperienced motorist.
Knowing When to Use Your Roadside Emergency Supplies and When to Stay Put
If your car has broken down in an area where you don’t feel that you can safely exit your car, make sure that you call for help first. This could be the case if your car is disabled on a busy freeway, either in the shoulder or in a traffic lane. If you fear that a collision could occur, use traffic cones, reflectors and flares to signal to oncoming drivers that your car is disabled. Otherwise, use your judgement and street smarts to decide whether you can make an attempt to diagnose and repair your car or just wait for support services to arrive.
Drivers that have the right tools and are prepared to deal with roadside emergencies are less likely to panic and can make snap judgements that keep them safer. All you need to do is take a look inside of the trunk of your car and see if you would be able to stay comfortably inside your car for a while based on what you see. Although people always hope to avoid having roadside emergencies, there are ways to make them more bearable.
