Safety tips for when you need to tow your car

A small white car is being loaded onto a flatbed tow truck from Fairfax Tow TruckYou start to expect the worst, the car is barely making it up the hill and then you feel the engine drop. This is not good, this is not good at all. As you safely come to a stop at the crest of the hill, your heart starts to sink a little bit. You know your old girl will not turn over, but hey it might be worth a try. After a few attempts there is nothing, and instead, you will need to call a tow. Your first call should be to Fairfax Tow Truck, we have been servicing the Fairfax, VA area for years, and will to you in just a few minutes. However, we are not going to be on scene immediately, so to ensure your safety we have brought together some great safety tips to keep you safe when you need a tow.

  1. Pull over and out of traffic as much as possible

Look, we know that you cannot control whether you are going to be dealing with terrible traffic when you break down, but if you do happen to break down during rush hour try and get out of the way. If you can drive your vehicle, I would strongly suggest heading to the nearest shoulder of the road to prevent a further accident and to not impede other traffic. If you cannot pull it over under the cars own power, you will want to push it to the shoulder to prevent an even worse back up behind you. Make sure to activate your emergency lights so that other drivers will be able to see you!

  1. Signal drivers that you are not moving

This may seem like a no-brainer during the night, but even during the day, it might be a good move to turn on your hazard lights. This will allow other drivers to know that you are not moving, and will make it easier for everyone. For those not in the know, the hazard light button will be either on your steering column or dashboard and will have a big red, triangular icon on it.A car that has been damaged in an accident is being towed through Fairfax on a flatbed tow truck.

  1. Stay or go, but make sure it is safe

In some situations, it might not be ideal to leave your vehicle, especially on a divided highway. If this is the case, make sure to put on seatbelts, and sit away from the road facing side of the vehicle. If you are able to exit your vehicle, do so from the opposite side of the road, minding any traffic that may be coming by. As well, if you are able to safely go on to the other side of a barrier, it would be ideal.  If you have to cross the road, make sure to look both ways!

  1. Don’t accept rides from a stranger

Look it may be a common thing to say, but if you are broken down and waiting for a tow truck to come, you do not need to accept rides. There are some good Samaritans out there, but there are also people who will take advantage of your situation. Instead, remain with your vehicle and wait for a Fairfax Tow Truck to come on the scene and help you out.

  1. Remember your personal belongings

If you decide that you are safe to leave the car, make sure to bring along your personal belongings. This includes purses, phones, identification and other important documents such as your insurance. This will prevent any issues of lost or stolen items while your car is abandoned and will allow for an easy conversation with the tow truck driver.A woman is sitting in her broken down car on a snowy winter day waiting for Fairfax Tow Truck to tow her car to a garage.

  1. Keep your family entertained

This may seem like a bit of a head-scratcher, but if you are travelling with kids, it might be a bit of a headache during your wait for your tow truck. It is a good idea to have a selection of magazines or toys in the car in case you run into issues. This way, your child will be able to focus on playing with their tow car rather than stressing you further. It really is a win-win. Plus, they are going to love seeing the tow truck in action!

When it comes to safety when you are waiting for a tow truck it comes down to common sense. No matter if you are looking for roadside assistance, or simply need a light duty tow, the team at Fairfax Tow Truck are here for you. Let our team get you back on the road with ease, and you can focus on keeping safe while you wait for our dispatch to send you one of our local trucks!

6 thoughts on “Safety tips for when you need to tow your car

  1. Hi there
    Many thanks for this awesome information and I can safetly say that this is something that I had never ever thought of or anticipated.
    One never knows when this incident can take place and I guess the majority of us are unpreperad for the unexpected.
    I remember my radiator started to leak water years ago and It was a case of ringing the insurance company and then then organised a tow-truck to come and collect me. That was very efficient, I was on my own, but I can only imagine what it would be like if someone’s car broke down and they had kids with them…
    Thanks for great advise
    Well done
    Cheers PB

    1. It’s great when you have insurance that has a roadside assistance plan include. Unfortunately, many plans don’t include roadside assistance and many people don’t give it any thought.

      You are correct the majority of us are unprepared for the unexpected. Of course it’s impossible to be prepared for everything but most of us are not prepared even for the smallest of incidents.  Although in today’s world, help is usually a phone call way but sometimes you need to pay for that help especially if you call for assistance from a towing company. 

  2. Hey I just wanted to say thank you for the information you gave here. I know a lot of this seems like common sense but usually when your in the situation of needing a tow Some times common sense is the first thing to go mainly due to the stress of the situation of worry about where your broke down at and how your going to afford the fix. These tips will come in handy for anyone who needs a tow.

    1. Unfortunately, most people don’t think about these situations until they are in the situation. That causes a lot of additional stress. A lot of this is common sense for most people but like you said when people get really stressed they tend to lose their common sense.

      Taking 5 minutes to read these safety tips and giving some thought could make a big difference if this situation ever arises.

  3. Hi Steve, what a fine article on safety tips when experiencing a car breakdown. I’m in the automotive business and I can see all the points are very practical.

    Point 4 – not accepting ride from strangers – is really important. Better be safe then sorry.

    Point 5 is a good reminder. In our haste or panic we may forget to take out our valuable things.

    Nice one! Thanks!

    Song

    1. It’s unfortunate that there is a point 4. It would be nice if we could trust everyone that was to offer help. But there are some bad people out there so it’s best to stay safe.

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