Roadside Readiness – Staying safe during a breakdown.

So you’ve called our roadside assist team, help is on the way, and all you have to do is wait.

However, roads and highways are not a safe place, during a breakdown, even inside stopping bays. Usually, the best place to wait is inside your car. Breakdown safety is a big deal, and we want you to be able to make it home safely.

How can you stay safe during a breakdown?

First, ensure your car is visible. Check for traffic before getting out – and ensure your hazard lights are functioning. This is always vital, but is more important at night, and in low-visibility conditions such as heavy rain. High-vis triangles might be useful to keep on hand to warn oncoming cars of your position in case your hazard lights stop functioning. Oncoming cars should slow down to avoid you, and you can make this easy by letting your car be as visible as possible.

If you can ensure your car is parked as far to the left as is possible, this can be helpful to give you the best chance of safety from other motorists. Avoid crossing the road for any reason, and keep everybody together, especially young children. Even adults can misjudge the timing when crossing large roads where there’s a high speed limit. Keep well-clear of the road and always check for oncoming cars approaching. If you need fresh air, people sitting on the right-hand side seats may want to consider exiting via the left.

Stay Safe While You Wait

In Queensland, dehydration can happen even in cooler months. Be sure to always keep a litre of water in the car and low-GI snacks like muesli bars. Remember to travel with any medication that needs to be taken at a certain time during the day. They’re not the only thing you should consider keeping in your car. Check out our guide on preparation and prevention of even the most unexpected motor mishaps. If children are in the car, keep them amused, but spare your phone’s battery for when you most need it, and turn on low-power mode.

If you’re unsure what the problem is, whether your car is stuck, or you need to change the tyre, stay safe. Always wait for the roadside assist team member just to be safe, and most of all – stay calm. Roadside assist services are always working to be with you as soon as possible. Remember they may be coming to you from some distance, but they’ll be there as soon as they can.

If you’re experiencing a breakdown, Battery Services will come to you in Brisbane and Surroundings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us – we’ll take care of you.