Automotive Emergency Preparedness - What to Do If Your Car Breaks Down While Traveling

Summer vacations are an American past time. Families plan and save all year to be able to travel to popular destinations across the country in the summer months. With the economy struggling to recover from the worst recession in recent memory however, many vacationers scale their travel plans back, opting to take the family automobile out on the open road to arrive at their favorite vacation spots.

By driving themselves, travelers can save money they would have spent on airfare, and invest it in things like hotel accommodations or extra spending money at their final destination. There are dangers, however, in choosing this course of action. Most notably, as travelers take to our nation's highways in droves, they need to be aware of the very real possibility of car breakdowns and roadside emergencies.

This article details the unfortunate possibilities and offers some valuable advise on how to deal with (and avoid) the worst automotive problems. Preventing Emergencies Before They Happen The most effective means of preventing roadside emergencies is properly caring for your car before you take to the road. If you are going on a long trip in the family roadster, you may want to get that tuneup that you have been putting off. At the very least, you should have the oil checked and your car examined by a qualified professional.

Tips and Guidelines on How

Much to Carry and Spend

Finding fluid leaks or old, worn belts and dealing with them prior to your trip can be the difference between a safe trip and a lengthy, dangerous roadside emergency. Checking your tires is also very important. Not only should they be looked at for substantial wear to determine if they need to be replaced, but the tire pressure should also be checked using the appropriate tools.

Don't forget to check your spare and make sure that you have all of the necessary tools to change a tire should the need arise (spare, jack, tire iron, etc...). Once you've checked the mechanical state of the vehicle, it's time to tend to the smaller things that can be overlooked. You'll want to check the lights and blinkers to make sure they all are functioning properly.

Check your windshield wipers as well, because you never know when you may run into inclement weather while on the highway. The old saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" certainly applies to automotive emergencies. By insuring that your car is in tip top shape before you take the road, you are limiting the chances of having a breakdown or being involved in a serious emergency like a car accident.

Emergency Response Guideline

Emergency Roadside Safety Tips Despite your best efforts to prevent them, roadside emergencies are going to occur. They happen every day all over the country and chances are if you have driven for any real amount of time, they will happen to you too. The #1 rule for any type of mishap, regardless of the specifics, is to REMAIN CALM. A level head and steady hands will go a long way to helping you survive your emergency situation unscathed.

The most important factor to consider is the safety of yourself, your passengers, and the other individuals you share the road with. By keeping these guidelines in mind, you will be dealing with little more than an inconvenience, one that can easily be solved by phoning The Automobile Association of America's Emergency Roadside Assistance or a local towing service.

In instances where your car has broken down on the highway, you should take immediate action to get your car to the side of the road, where you will be out of the flow of traffic. If you suffer a tire blowout or your car engine stalls while you are driving DO NOT JAM ON YOUR BRAKES! This is a common error. Your best course of action is to remove your foot from the accelerator and let the car slow down naturally.

Ophthalmic Emergency Tips/Guidelines

Other roadside safety tips:

Pull all the way to the right side of the highway whenever possible, while doing your best to stay on the pavement. If you have a flat tire, try and pull over to a level surface so you'll be able to safely install your spare. As soon as it is safe to do so, turn your emergency hazard lights on to alert other motorists that your car is in distress. DO NOT BRAKE SUDDENLY! Small mechanical errors can turn into serious wrecks with this type of behavior.

Coast to a stop if it is at all possible. If it is safe to do so, remove pets or children from the car and move them to a safe distance. If you are on a busy highway, it may be safer and more advisable to remain in the car until help arrives. Exit the car using the door that is farthest from oncoming traffic. If you have emergency flares or cones, be sure to use them prior to attempting to service your vehicle.

One of the most difficult decisions to make in a emergency roadside situation is whether or not it is safe for you and your family to get out of the car. If you are on a busy highway with speeding cars or find yourself unable to get to the side of the road, STAY IN YOUR CAR! One of the best tools you can have in these situations is your cell phone. You can use it to call the authorities like the California Highway Patrol even a 24 hour Los Angeles Towing Service for immediate assistance.

By adhering to some simple rules and using a little bit of foresight, you can eliminate the danger that comes with automotive emergencies. It is important to remember that we are all sharing our roads and are trying to get to where we are going quickly and safely. By taking responsibility for your vehicle and your behavior during emergency situations, you can help make sure that everyone arrives at their destinations safe and sound.

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Guidelines For Emergency Travel - How to Get to Your Destination Quickly

We may love to go away when it's a planned vacation, but sometimes the circumstances aren't so pleasant and we must go abroad because of the fatal illness or sudden death of a loved one. Given that, it's good to know that an emergency passport can be obtained and that there are mechanisms in place to help you do such things as buying plane tickets quickly and easily.

Should you have to get to a loved one who has died or is dying, bereavement or compassionate fares will save you money on last-minute travel as they're close to what a lowest cost seat would be. You have to give proof, but you might save between ten and seventy-five percent, but probably somewhere around fifty percent.

Such bereavement fares aren't always so simple, though, especially if they're for international flights. With these you may often have to pay the full fare and then apply for a rebate within ninety days. With that application, you must show the death certificate. And, as there are often multiple flights involved in international travel, you must submit the information separately to each.

A one day passport renewal is a possibility should you not be able to find your passport or if it's been marred or its date has run out and you must go abroad to meet up with your partner or family member. When you're looking for a bereavement fare, make sure to give the proper documentation, such as the name of the patient or deceased, the hospital or funeral home where he or she is, the name and number of his or her physician, and your relationship status.

Some airlines will take this over the phone, some will require a personal visit, and some will have more criteria you must meet. Be sure to have the death certificate if the company will only issue this type of fare after the death happens.

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