If your car breaks down and leaves you stuck on the side of the road, there are five important steps to take in order to safely handle the situation:

Step One: Pull over. Make sure you get your car as far off of the road as you can in order to safely keep yourself out of the flow of traffic. If you are on the highway, be sure to get out of your car on the passenger side.

Step Two: Make sure your car can be seen. Turn on your hazard lights so other drivers or police can see your car. Also if you have warning signals such as warning lights, hazard triangles, and flares, it is a good idea to put them out to signal to others that you need help. Put the signals farther away from your car to warn others in advance that your car is up ahead.

Step Three: Use a distress signal. By popping the hood of your car or tying a white cloth to your antenna or door handle, you can signal to other drivers or police that you are stuck and need help.

Step Four: Lock your doors. If your car is safely parked on the side of the road, you should sit in your car while waiting for help to arrive. Keep your seatbelt on and lock your doors to ensure safety while waiting inside.

Step Five: Be wary when receiving help. If you are getting help from a stranger who stopped to help you, be sure when they approach your car to only lower the window enough so you can talk to them. If you already have help on the way, let them know you appreciate the offer but someone else is coming to help you.

A last thing to keep in mind is that it may be a smart idea to sign up with a roadside assistance program that you can trust to safely come to your aid in the event of a roadside emergency.