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If
you are in an accident or your car breaks down, safety should be your
first concern. Getting out of the car at a busy intersection or on a
highway to change a tire or check damage from a fender bender is
probably one of the worst things you can do. The Insurance Information
Institute (I.I.I.) recommends the following precautions when your car
breaks down:
- Never get out of the vehicle to make a repair or examine the
damage on a busy highway. Get the vehicle to a safe place before
getting out. If you've been involved in an accident, motion the
other driver to pull up to a safe spot ahead.
- If you can’t drive the vehicle, it may be safer to stay in the
vehicle and wait for help or use a cell phone to summon help. Under
most circumstances standing outside the vehicle in the flow of
traffic is a bad idea.
- Carry flares or triangles to use to mark your location once you
get to the side of the road. Marking your vehicle’s location to
give other drivers advance warning can be critical. Remember to put
on your hazard lights!
- In the case of a blowout or a flat tire, move the vehicle to a
safer place before attempting a repair—even if it means destroying
the wheel getting there. The cost of a tire, rim or wheel is minor
compared to endangering your safety.
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