If you’ve been driving for less than a year, there’s a strong chance you’ve never had to deal with your car breaking down. You’ve probably never had to check the car over either, inspecting the engine, the radiators, the fluid levels, or the tyres.
And as such, you’re pretty unprepared for the day when your car suddenly grinds to a halt on the road, or you hear a bang from behind you and can’t seem to steer properly anymore. And yes, these things can happen quite frequently and without warning.
So, let’s get you ready for a breakdown ASAP. Whether or not your car is in good shape, accidents can happen and breakdowns can occur. If you know what to do, you’ll be able to take a breakdown in stride and react appropriately. Here’s the 101 you need to know.
Make Yourself as Safe as Possible
Pull over
If your car can still move, try to pull over as far as you can away from the road. Getting onto a slip lane or hard shoulder, if possible, is the best course of action. This way you’re out of the way of any oncoming traffic, but you’re still accessible to anyone you’ve called for help.
If you have to pull over onto a more grassy, uneven terrain, try to find a level area for your vehicle to sit on. You might not want to, but if you’ve broken down on a busy road with a higher speed limit, this may be the safest thing to do.
Turn your hazards on
It’s best to have your hazards on no matter what, but this is the number one thing you must do if you’ve broken down and can’t really pull over too far.
You need to try and get your vehicle out of the way of any other vehicles, but if your options are extremely limited, moving over to the slowest part of the road and turning on your hazards is the safest thing to try.
Get out of the car
Only if it’s safe to do so! Don’t get out of your car and walk into the middle of a road, even if you’re desperate to catch someone’s attention. Stand somewhere where you can get a view of the road, but do your best to get out of the way.
After all, you need to be able to keep an eye out for any further hazards, but also look out for roadside assistance. However, your safety will always come first, so try to make sure collision isn’t possible.
Stay calm
Your car has broken down, you’re still on the road, and you don’t know what’s wrong. It’s easy to immediately fly into a panic. You’re not sure what to do, or what’s going on, and the traffic isn’t stopping.
There’s one thing you need to do right now: get out of the way of the road ASAP. This will make sure injuries are kept to a minimum.
So, take some deep breaths, turn your car on, and drive over to the nearest safe spot you can find. If need be, put the car into neutral and get out and push.
If it’s not possible to move the car, don’t think about it. Focus on yourself and any other passengers in the vehicle with you, and get everyone out of the car and away from potential danger.
Check Your Car
If it’s safe to do so, you’re now at a point where you can inspect your vehicle. And you don’t need to know anything about car upkeep here.
Look out for obvious signs like punctures or impact marks, as well as signs of smoke or strange smells.
Call for Assistance
Once you’re safe and away from any oncoming hazards, you can call for assistance.
Of course, if you need to call for emergency help, we don’t recommend waiting around. This point only applies if you’re not in need of immediate aid and are able to still get up and move out of the car.
If you’re insured with a provider who offers breakdown cover, they should have either a list of recommended roadside assistance companies you can turn to, or they may send out a repair vehicle of their own.
You can also double check what’s available in the local area, as these providers are more likely to be able to get to you within the hour.
If you’ve been able to check over your car and work out what’s wrong, look for a specific assistance company that deals with it.
If you’ve had to pull over because a tyre popped or a wheel rim has been bent, and now your car is less manoeuvrable, look for options like a Mobile Tyre Fitting specialist.
These kinds of repair companies aren’t tied down to garages and won’t need you to try and move your vehicle. They can just repair wherever it is you are and then send you on your way.
It Can Be Scary When Your Car Breaks Down
When you’re a new driver dealing with a car backfiring, a popped tyre, or a full on breakdown on the side of a motorway, you’re going to end up feeling pretty panicked.
You’ve never dealt with a vehicle misbehaving before, and you could be in a situation where your life may genuinely be in danger.
All of these things put together make new drivers pretty anxious at the idea that they might need to pull over and lift the bonnet!
That’s why we’ve put the guide above together. If you’ve never had to deal with roadside trouble before, it’s best to know what to do while you’ve still got the time, patience, and headspace to learn it.
Most of all, make sure you have the right kind of breakdown cover and/or the option to call for the right help. Whether you need towing or just a hand with changing the oil or checking the brakes, professional assistance is crucial.