FIVE THINGS TO DO IF YOUR CAR BREAKS DOWN

Every day, people from one side of the country to the next take to the roadways. Some do so for work and others for pleasure. Regardless of why you are hitting the road, there is always the chance that your car will breakdown.

While you can protect against this with the proper maintenance schedule, even then there is no way of guaranteeing that a breakdown will never occur.

Here are five things to do if you find yourself in this position:

1. Remove your car from traffic, if at all possible. Even if something goes terribly wrong with your vehicle, you should still be able to drive it to the shoulder of the road.

Note: If this is not possible, do not get out of your vehicle until you are 100 percent sure you can do so in a safe manner.

2. Call for help. Regardless of your situation, it is best to call for help as soon as it is safe to do so. From the police to a tow truck driver, decide who to call and then start dialing.

3. Alert others that you are in trouble. The use of hazard lights is a good start, but you may want to take things one step further by placing road flares 25 to 50 feet behind your vehicle (only if it is safe to do so).

4. Opt against a do-it-yourself repair. As tempting as it may be to pop the hood and take a closer look, this is not always the ideal time to do so. Your safety comes first, and attempting to make a repair on a crowded road is anything but safe.

5. Be patient. As frustrated as you may be, you need to exercise patience if your car breaks down. This will ensure your safety, while also giving you time to think through your situation.

Nobody wants to be in this situation, but if you find your car broken down the five tips above can be of great assistance.