Something that you don’t want to happen but you should be prepared for is a car breakdown. The fact is that it can happen to anyone at any point and thus you need to take measures to make this unpleasant experience quickly resolve itself.
Here are some of the top tips that can help you prepare for a car breakdown and help you deal with it.
Keep Your Car In Good Condition
The best way to prepare for a breakdown is to make sure that you limit the possibility of experiencing one. The best way to do this is to make sure your car is in good working condition throughout the year. Clean your car both from the inside and outside regularly to prevent dust and dirt from damaging your car. Make sure you also service your car regularly. You should also learn some basic skills yourself to make sure that smaller problems don’t cause you trouble. Learn to change your tire and check the oils in the car.
Carry An Emergency Kit In The Car
You can also prepare an emergency kit to be carried at all times in the car. The kit will have a few different items that need to be included during the winter or summer months. The most essential items to have throughout the year are a torch, a blanket, high-visibility vest and some basic food and drink supplies.
Food and drink supplies don’t need to be anything fancy; just have some nuts or chocolate bars ready in case you need them. During the winter months you should also include a shovel, scraper and de-icer onto your kit.
It is also essential that you carry a small first aid kit to make sure you can handle small cuts and bruises if they occur during your breakdown. You can purchase these from larger supermarkets and chemists and there are online guides available if you want to make your own kit.
Stay Calm And Know Your Numbers
If you notice your car is breaking down the first thing to do is to ensure you drive it somewhere safe. The AA reminds that you should never stop on the motorway unless it is a real emergency. Make sure you have all of your emergency lights on in the car and that you wear your high-visibility vest to ensure other drivers can spot you. Don’t stay in the car if you experience any smoke.
Red Cross recommends you call help from the roadside phones because these alert you directly to the police and provide your exact location. You can also call from your mobile phone if you wish; just make sure you know your location. Have car repair numbers in the car to make sure you can contact them at all times if you need to.
Make Sure You Are Insured
Of course the best way to make sure that you don’t end up paying a fortune if you experience a breakdown is to get insurance. Breakdown insurance at XYZ for instance covers your car. Having this back up is essential in making certain you don’t face any more inconvenience after a breakdown.
Jack is a keen driver who loves to spend his holidays driving around England and see new locations. When he isn’t driving he is dwelling into a good book and sipping some home-made cider.