Have you ever been driving, and you start to hear your engine putter out all of a sudden? Or you see smoke coming out of the hood of your car? Considering that ReportLinker predicts that the roadside assistance market will grow by $1.75 billion from 2020 to 2024, it seems that more and more cars will have these problems in the years to come.
If you ever find yourself in this situation, don't panic. With some useful tips and help from Calgary's auto repair mechanics, you can get through it with no issues.
Continue reading this guide to learn what you should do when your car breaks down while you're on the road.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CAR BREAKS DOWN FAR FROM HOME
If you aren't a mechanic or you don't know much about cars, it's challenging to identify what is wrong with your vehicle when it breaks down. It would be best if you regularly took it in for maintenance checks to decrease the likelihood of breaking down spontaneously.
NOTIFY OTHER DRIVER'S OF YOUR PROBLEM
As soon as you realize that something is wrong with your car, hit your hazard light button. Always use these at night or when there's inclement weather, as it will prevent another driver from running into your car. It is essential that you do this when driving a large vehicle that runs on diesel fuel and transports people, goods, or oil.
PULL OFF THE ROAD
Usually, major roads have a right shoulder that you can use when you break down. Turn your wheels away from the road and put your emergency breaks on when you pull over.
When you exit the vehicle, go through the passenger's side. It is safer because you don't have to worry about oncoming traffic. Another action you can take to let other people know that you have a broken car is to leave the hood popped open.
If you're on a small road and you can't get out of the way, keep those hazard lights on. Stay in the car, too, as other vehicles will need to get by you, and you don't want to continue to hold up traffic.
BREAK OUT YOUR ROADSIDE TOOL KIT
Everyone should keep a tool kit in the back of their car for emergencies. The Government of Canada recommends that you keep items like warning flares, jumper cables, and a fire extinguisher in them. While this may seem excessive, they'll increase your safety.
CONTACT AUTO REPAIR MECHANICS IN CALGARY
Lastly, you will need to get some car repair help to figure out what is going on with your vehicle. To ensure that your car receives the best care possible, find a company that's part of the Automatic Transmission Service Group.
You should check out all the services Change Auto & Diesel has to offer. They have highly trained auto repair mechanics in Calgary who will get you back on the road in no time.