What to do if your Car Breaks Down on a Busy Highway?

What to do if your car breaks down on a busy highway?

You are driving on a busy highway, and suddenly your car breaks down. You don't know what to do and are stuck in the traffic. Sounds like a nightmare, right? It is better to be prepared for such a scenario to mitigate the hardship associated with a car breakdown. If you are prepared, you can manage the problem much better.

Steps to take in case of a car breakdown on a busy highway:

1. Park the car on the side of the road:

If your car breaks down a busy highway, first ensure that you don't panic. The most important thing is to stay calm and slowly move the car to the side of the road. Don't break quickly, as it can cause an accident. Make sure to use hazard lights to alert the vehicles behind you. Once you are at a safe distance, you can exit the car. It is better to stay inside if the highway is busy if possible.

2. Roadside assistance: 

If you have purchased a Roadside Assistance (RSA) plan, you can call the company to send help to you. The time required depends on where you are stuck and the company you have purchased the plan. Usually, it should not take more than 90 minutes for the help to arrive. Until the help arrives, make sure you stay with the car and once the RSA team arrives, explain the problem to resolve it. They are trained for most problems like towing, battery jumpstart, flat tyres, etc.

3. NHAI help:

NHAI authorities must help all tolled highways as per an RTI. The authorities are responsible for providing towing services, ambulances, drinking water, etc.

4. Use the tools yourself:

If it is as simple as a flat tyre, you can change the tyre yourself. It should not take much time. But, if you do not have the experience, rather than trying for the first time, it is better to trust the experts, especially on a busy highway.

Whatever the case, it is excellent if you stay calm and approach the problem with confidence. Also, it is great if you have a roadside assistance cover, as solving the problem yourself is not always feasible, and in some cases, the NHAI authorities might refuse to help. If you have a roadside assistance cover, you can call the experts to solve the problem.

A roadside assistance cover is like an insurance policy against a car breakdown. Also, it is better to have zero-depreciation insurance on your car. A zero-depreciation cover ensures that your car repair will be taken care of by the insurance company if you have a mishap.