There’s nothing quite like that pit in your stomach that occurs when your vehicle breaks down. While some are lucky enough for it to happen just around the corner from their home, others aren’t so fortunate. When you break down on the road, it’s important to act fast so that you can get yourself and your loved ones to safety. The dangers of the road are apparent but when you break down, the increase in danger is very present.
With that being said, here’s everything you need to know in order to ensure a quick and safe emergency vehicle recovery.
The statistics on emergency vehicle recovery
A staggering 224,225 cars broke down between 2018 and 2019 in the UK on motorways alone. This figure has likely increased in recent years as more people are on the road than ever before. In December of 2022, the RAC reported 12,000 callouts that month. It just goes to show that a vehicle can easily break down, even if you put a lot of effort into maintaining it.
There are many reasons why your vehicle might break down on the road, with one main contributor being blown out or flat tyres. Having an emergency contact on speed dial for your tyres is important to have when it comes to emergency vehicle recovery so that you can get back on the road - or off it - as soon as possible.
Five tips for a quick and safe emergency vehicle recovery
A lot more breakdowns happen on the road, which is why it’s important to check your vehicle before you leave your driveway. Be aware of all the basic checks that you should be doing on your vehicle every day before leaving so that you prevent the breakdown from going further than your front door.
If you’re unlucky enough to break down on the motorway, here are five tips for a quick and safe emergency vehicle recovery.
1. Have an emergency service on speed dial
First and foremost, to make sure you’re seen as quickly as possible, it’s important to have an emergency roadside recovery service on speed dial. If it’s a problem with your tyres specifically, then getting in touch with PMA Tyres is essential to getting your wheels fixed quickly and easily.
Having an emergency service to hand is something you won’t regret, especially if your phone battery is low or you want to avoid having to trawl through Google for available businesses to help.
If you have a number to hand immediately, then you’ll be able to sort out the problem a lot faster and get off any busy roads before an accident occurs.
2. Be specific about where your car is located
Where is your car located? Are there any indicators of where you are on the motorway or within your local area? It’s important to scope out all of the nearby signs and recognisable surroundings that will help the emergency services find you.
A great company to utilise when it comes to getting your car located successfully is what3words. This gives you three words that are linked directly to your location and can be provided to those who are trying to find you.
There may be occasions when you are located in the middle of nowhere and there are no identifying landmarks so software like what3words is worth having available.
3. Park the car safely
Breakdowns happen anywhere and everywhere which means sometimes, parking safely might not be possible.
With that being said, if you are able to park the car, you should do so in a safe place. For example, if you’ve broken down on the motorway, you should try and get your car off the main road and into the hard shoulder.
Sometimes getting to the hard shoulder isn’t possible and so if that’s the case, then you should avoid trying to move the car for the purpose of safety for you and your car.
4. Keep hazard lights on if it’s possible
When it comes to emergency vehicle recovery, you’ll want to stand out for other drivers and the emergency vehicle recovery service you book. Keeping hazards on is a great way to ensure you are seen in all weather conditions and when the roads are particularly busy.
For certain weather conditions, a vehicle might be hard to spot, which is why it’s worth keeping the hazards on. Not only that but you might want to put your car light too if it’s dark.
Hazards are good for other drivers who might be coming up fast behind you and need enough time to break or manoeuvre around you bringing harm to yourself.
5. Stay far away from the vehicle and busy roads
When you’re broken down, you might not be able to move the vehicle. That might be the case if you’re in a live lane on the motorway and it’s too busy to attempt to get out and move to the grass verge that can often be found on a motorway. Outside of motorways, anywhere that’s off the road is ideal.
However, if you’re able to park your car in a bay or hard shoulder, then you should get out of the vehicle and head as far away from the vehicle as you can. This is important because it takes you further away from any potential harm that might come to you otherwise.
According to statistics by Gov, there were 1,633 fatalities in 2023, which is why it’s important to be wary when on the road. During a breakdown, you’re more vulnerable to the dangers of the road, so make sure you’re using these tips to keep safe and get help as soon as possible.
Get emergency tyre fitting with PMA Tyres
If you need someone readily available in London for your emergency tyre fitting needs, then get in touch with PMA Tyres. Serving all areas across London, you’ll want a reliable service, such as this one. Get in touch today if you need help when breaking down and need an emergency tyre fitting service quickly.
