If your vehicle breaks down, there are many steps you should take to handle the situation:

One: Always have an emergency kit readily available for your use if needed.

Two: Know how to perform basic repairs on your car. Such repairs include oil checks, battery connection, radiator fluid checks, and tire changes.

Three: Do not leave the car if you are in an unfamiliar or remote area and do not know where to go to get help. Someone who sees you’re in trouble is more likely to spot your car than you yourself. This is even truer if there is bad weather.

Four: Make sure to have and conserve water, especially if you are stuck in a desert area. For shade in such areas, you can go beneath your car.

Five: If you are stuck in the cold, and are leaving the car on to stay warm, be sure to clear dirt and snow away from your tailpipe to prevent exhausts from being released in your car.

Six: Be sure your rescuers can see you. To indicate you are in trouble, it may be a good idea to open the hood of your car. If it is snowing, clear snow off of your car. If you are in an extremely remote area and see a plane or helicopter pass above you, use both arms and wave them above your head.

Seven: Be sure stay alert when going to find help or if somebody pulls over to assist you. Not knowing who a person is when it is dark out can put your safety at risk.

Eight: Be sure to keep calm. No matter where you are stranded, a lot of energy can be wasted if you are being frantic, so take your time to calmly and logically think of solutions. Also, keep an optimistic outlook on the situation, to increase your ability to remain calm.

As a side note, to increase your chances of receiving assistance when stuck on the road, it may be a good idea to sign up with a roadside assistance program. Roadside assistance can come to your rescue more reliably and more quickly than waiting and hoping for someone who has good intentions to pull over and help you.