4 Roadside Safety Tips for Texas Drivers

You’re driving down a road late at night when suddenly your car starts rattling. It could be a flat tire, but that doesn’t explain the flashing dashboard lights. What should you do?

It’s a nerve-wracking scenario to say the least. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead, so that in these tense moments, you can safely deal with the situation and be on your way.

“First and foremost is your own personal safety,” says Nancy Hunter, a Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent in Austin. “A vehicle can be replaced, but your life can’t. Safety is first.”

Here are a few tips to help you prepare for being stranded on the side of the road.

How to Pull Over

If you are having any kind of car trouble, the safest thing to do is get off the road so you can evaluate the situation. Here’s how to do so safely:

• Pull over to the right shoulder as far as possible. If that’s not an option, pull over as far as you can to the left.
• If you’re on a highway, exit if you can before pulling over in a safer spot.
• Once you are off the road, get out of the car on the passenger side (or the side away from traffic) and stand on the side of the vehicle closest to the shoulder. This is the safest place to be if there are other cars passing.
• Never stand in front of or behind the vehicle. The last place you want to be is in line with where the car could potentially roll.

How to Stock Your Car

A few items are helpful in the event of an emergency, accident, or broken-down car:

• A blanket for cold weather
• Jumper cables
• A small container with a gallon or two of gas
• A small water bottle for an overheated engine

How to Stay Visible

Getting struck by another vehicle is one of the biggest dangers of being stranded on the road.

• Turn on your emergency flashers and pop the hood so other motorists can see your disabled vehicle.
• If you have reflective warning triangles, place them several feet behind your car to alert oncoming traffic.
• Call for help.

How to Get Roadside Assistance

Texas Farm Bureau Insurance encourages policyholders to enroll in roadside-assistance coverage. This optional coverage only costs 50 cents per month per vehicle covered. It covers drivers wherever they go and at home, with a simple wallet card containing their policy number and information. Services include:

• Up to one hour of roadside labor
• Battery jump-starting
• Filling gas
• Locksmith help
• Winching
• Towing service up to $120

“Every single quote that I send out includes roadside assistance, because it’s so economical and provides such a service. When somebody calls, all they need is their policy number and help is on the way,” Hunter says. “I always tell my clients to put the roadside-assistance number in their phone. If something happens and your adrenaline is pumping and you’re not sure what to do, have that number with you in your phone so that you can call for help.”

Learn more about your new roadside assistance program here.

Coverage and discounts are subject to qualifications and policy terms and may vary by situation.