Car breakdown: what now?
Car breakdown: what now?
August 17, 2015By First For Women
It is probably one of your worst nightmares. Your car breaks down and you are left stranded at the side of the road, vulnerable and alone. Perhaps you are in a deserted area or, horror of horrors, it is late at night. How can you avoid vehicle breakdowns and, more importantly, what do you do if the worst happens and your trusty car fails you at the worst possible time? Listen up because this is what you need to know.
Vehicle maintenance: love your car
- Service your car regularly and use a reputable mechanic
- Strange noises coming from the engine or flashing warning lights? Get problems attended to immediately
- Check the condition of your tyres regularly and replace damaged or worn tyres. Don't forget to check your spare tyre as well
- Check your oil, water and tyre pressure regularly
- Don't get stuck without petrol fill up when your tank is half-empty rather than waiting for it to edge into the red
- Consider replacing your battery before it starts giving problems ask your mechanic how often you should buy a new one
- Check the condition of your tyres regularly and replace damaged or worn tyres. Don't forget to check your spare tyre as well
- Check your oil, water and tyre pressure regularly
- Do you have a working jack and wheel spanner in your car as well as an emergency warning triangle and a torch?
Safety first
- Join a roadside assistance service. Check your insurance policy as roadside assistance might be included
- Plan your journey if your route is unfamiliar. Try and stick to main roads
- Never drive alone after dark in unknown areas
- Make sure that your cellphone is always fully charged. Invest in a car charger and emergency cell phone charger kit
- Program emergency numbers into your phone, for example the police, roadside assistance etc.
- Consider replacing your battery before it starts giving problems ask your mechanic how often you should buy a new one
- Consider investing in a GPS. If you already own one make sure that you always keep your maps updated
- Always tell a friend or family member where you are going, what your route will be taking and what time you expect to arrive at your destination
- Don't be a damsel in distress! Learn how to change a tyre and jump start your battery
Breakdown! Now what?
- Keep calm and try not to panic
- Pull over and turn on your hazard lights
- Put your warning triangle on the road about 50 metres behind your car
- Keep your lights on if it is dark or visibility is poor
- Call for roadside assistance
- Call a friend or family member and tell them where you are. If possible, ask someone to come and sit with you while you wait for roadside assistance
- Do not get out of your car. Keep all your doors locked and your windows closed
- Never accept offers of a lift or assistance from strangers
- When roadside assistance arrives do not immediately get out of your car. Ask to see their identification first - they should also know your name and reference number as well
- If you have a flat tyre drive slowly to a place of safety and change your tyre there
Guardian Angels and Road Assist from 1st for Women
1st for Women policyholders qualify for a range of medical, travel, and home and lifestyle benefits. Travel benefits include:
Guardian Angels: The oh-so-pink BMW's you see in and around Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban are on a mission to help, protect and provide assistance to all woman motorists if they have a mechanical breakdown, a flat battery or flat tyre in a dangerous place.
Need a Guardian Angel? Call 0860 10 42 12.
Road Assist: This benefit offers comprehensive solutions for virtually any roadside emergency. Locked your keys in your car? Need petrol ASAP? Stranded far from home and need to be towed to a mechanic? No problem! Road Assist to the rescue.
Find out more about Travel Benefits from 1st for Women.
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