We all know how stressful it is if your car breaks down, especially on the busy Vancouver highways. Not all of us are prepared to deal with an emergency, but having preventative tips makes things a lot smoother.
Common roadside emergencies are easy to navigate, or avoid altogether, if you’re prepared! We have all heard the horror stories of calling BCAA and not getting through the busy phone line. Here’s how to avoid that:
Flat Tire or Blowout
A flat tire is one of the most common roadside emergencies that a towing company is called about. Whether it be wear and tear, potholes, or some other road hazard: flat tires are annoying and very scary. Before a road trip, conduct some tire maintenance.
Make sure to check tire inflation and have the correct tires for whatever weather you are driving in. Your car’s owner manual will always have the correct pressure measurements for your tires if you need to inflate them yourself, so this is a great resource to keep.
If you blow a tire, safely slow down and pull over to the side of the road before doing anything else. The next step is always having a spare tire in the back! If you have a spare and a jack, you can do it yourself, or call a tow truck company to help you. Don’t forget to regularly check the condition of your spare tire as well.
A flat tire may seem minimal but spinning out due to an inability to control your car is especially dangerous!
Running Out of Fuel
We have all had the nightmare where we are driving down the street during rush hour as our car slowly comes to a stop with an empty tank. People are honking, you are stressed out, cars are zooming past aggressively – we know, it’s terrible.
The easiest way to fix this is to always keep an eye out for signs on the highway that tell you where the nearest gas station is. Before you pass an exit, keep an eye on your fuel levels. This can be easier said than done, so if for some reason you run out of gas, a good thing to have is a spare gas can. If you are able to, slowly move your car to the edge of the road and put on your hazard lights.
Reducing your speed until you can make it to a gas station can also help conserve gas. Worst comes to worst, you can always call roadside assistance and they can bring you enough gas to refuel your tank and get you running again!
Dead Battery
Most car batteries don’t need a lot of maintenance. Yet, they are such a problem if you end up with a dead battery. Something as easy as turning off the radio, the AC, and your lights if the car isn’t running can help reduce your battery usage.
Make sure you know how old your battery is, and its guarantee, as they become less capable with age.
Besides preventative measures, fixing a dead battery involves some jumper cables and someone else’s help to get you back up and running again. Jumper cables are always helpful to have in the back of your car as it isn’t guaranteed that people passing by will have them!
If you don’t own any, and nobody nearby is able to help, calling your towing company is always a steadfast backup in Vancouver.
Rear-Ending, Wildlife Avoidance, and Collisions
Collisions happen for many reasons. Unsafe driving conditions, distractions, impatience, even wildlife abruptly jumping in your way. The easiest way to avoid any kind of collision is to pay close attention to the road and avoid speeding. This is especially important in areas that have wildlife signs.
Even though we all consider ourselves safe drivers, we don’t have constant control on the road, often leaving us in risky situations. Staying calm is always important, as well as keeping a good grip on your steering wheel to ensure sharp reflexes.
If you end up in a small accident, always assist the injured first, and if needed, call 911. But make sure you exchange information with the other person in the crash, as well as witnesses. This will save you trouble in the future if you need to make any claims. Always let your insurance provider know as well.