Priority number one is to get to as safe a location. Things to consider are traffic patterns, time of day, passengers' needs, and relative safety of your surroundings.
If you are on the side of highway or road, you should try to get your vehicle at least a car length (approx. 15 ft) off the road or away from the flow of traffic. Many times this will not be possible due to the inoperable state of your vehicle. If you cannot get your vehicle away from the traffic flow, you and your passengers should consider leaving the automobile and seeking the relative safety of a nearby business or area like an embankment, yard, a pull-off, etc.. You may need to call 911 and make the local police department aware of the situation if you cannot move your vehicle from a particularly dangerous location (i.e., blind-curve or traffic lane of highway).
When your vehicle lets you down, you should make a general assessment of your surroundings. Are you in a "bad" neighborhood? In a busy parking lot? Is it night? What types of individuals are around? Naturally, if you are in a familiar neighborhood or busy mall parking lot your safety may not be in question as much as being "broken-down" in a neighborhood on the "wrong-side of the tracks".
However, no matter the location, you don't want to expose yourself unnecessarily to potential harm. So, don't just sit in car with your hazard lights on in a dark parking lot when you can go into a crowded mall to wait for the tow truck driver to call you when he arrives. Maybe you don't leave the hood up or hazards lights on while waiting in a street parking space for a tow truck to arrive.
In other words, consider whether or not you want to draw attention to the fact your vehicle is inoperable. In some situations, the benefit of turning on the hazards lights may be out weighted by the desire to go unnoticed until your friendly neighborhood towing company arrives.
So, remember your first priority when you are left on the side of the road or in a deserted parking lot should be safety. You may have a flat tire, ran out of gas, stuck in a ditch or your car simply quit. In all these cases, you need to take a deep breath and stay calm. By staying calm, you can prioritize and make sound decisions to get your passengers and yourself out of a potential harmful environment. Things to consider include traffic patterns, time of day, passengers' needs, and relative safety of your surroundings.
Chad Eisenhart works with RC-Towing at http://www.rc-towing.com/. RC Towing is a towing company in Lancaster PA. They offer emergency towing 24 hour a day 7 day a week towing of your vehicle. They also offers emergency road side assistance if you run out of gas, have a flat tire are locked out of your vehicle or your car will not start.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chad_B_Eisenhart
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