Texans can be plenty friendly, but getting stranded on urban and rural roadways in the Lone Star State can leave any driver feeling pretty lonesome. Motorists can take preventive measures to stay safe and steady on the road.Not all stranded motorists have mechanical problems, says Lonny Haschel, a Texas State Trooper based in Hurst. Haschel often stops to help drivers who are stranded.“I probably change five to 10 tires a week,” he says — especially as unpredictable weather and highway debris slaughter tires, overheat engines, and slick roads unexpectedly. “Texas is the only place I’ve lived where we can have all four seasons in a day.”What to do before you get on the roadRegardless of where a driver finds trouble, safety is key — along with regular car maintenance. “Sometimes you get wrapped up in your vacation and are excited to get there,” Haschel says. He recommends making a simple checklist and sticking to it:Regularly check the fluids in your car and the tread on your tires. Have them checked, especially before embarking on a trip.Invest in a GPS device, whether a phone or on your vehicle.Pack an emergency kit (see below).Tell someone you’re on the way, so he or she can watch for your arrival.Pack an emergency kit Every car should have an emergency kit, and not just basics like jumper cables and a fire extinguisher:Bottled water.Nonperishable food.Cellphone charger.A brightly colored piece of fabric or a flag, to tie to your antenna should you need help.Emergency phone numbers. Among them, include the DPS stranded motorist hotline: 800.525.5555.If you get in troubleHelp could be as close as your wallet. The back of all Texas driver’s licenses list a toll-free number to connect stranded motorists with the Texas Department of Public Safety for non-emergency assistance, but it’s a myth that drivers get a free tow each year.Dispatchers can activate a network of resources — local authorities or mechanics, not necessarily DPS troopers or a tow — to help vulnerable drivers, says Tom Vinger, DPS spokesperson.Metropolitan areas in Texas — think Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin — have established courtesy patrols. The telephone number on the back of toll tags or the non-emergency line to local police stations can connect drivers to assistance.Safety is key when a driver has a blowout, whether in the city or on a long trip. Drivers should stay with their cars, especially if they pull away from traffic. If drivers or passengers do leave the car, they should leave from the side of the car that faces away from oncoming traffic.Raise the hood of your car and turn on your emergency lights to indicate to other drivers that there’s an issue. Don’t, says Vinger, place yourself in danger. Climbing construction barriers or trying to cross a highway to save your car isn’t worth the danger.Be on alertTechnology can be a lifeline along the nearly 41,000 miles of farm-to-market roads through rural areas. But use common sense, Haschel says. It’s imperative to notice exit numbers and mile markers on the side of the road as you drive.“If you’re in the Big Bend area, for example, it’s not going to do you any good to call and say, ‘I’m standing next to an antelope and a mountain with a rock on it,’ ” he says.And Good Samaritans, be wary of stopping to aid someone who appears in need. Doing so can disrupt traffic, and criminals may pose as stranded motorists, Haschel says. Instead, call the police department’s non-emergency line or call the DPS stranded motorist hotline.