Auto Roadside Assistance Blog

Many of the accidents that occur each year are a result a result of collisions. These accidents can be prevented if your vehicle receives regular maintenance. Therefore, it is extremely important to make sure that all of the following parts of your vehicle are working correctly:

1. Check your tires. If you fail to inspect your tires, you are much more likely to experience blowouts. Therefore, check the air pressure in your tires and make sure they match the levels stated in your owner’s manual. It is also important to look for uneven wear, low treads, and leaks.

2. Change your windshield wipers. This should be done around twice per year. It is very important to change your windshield wipers because if they are not working efficiently, you will not be able to clear your windshield in poor weather conditions. Not being able to see the road clearly can put you and the people around you in danger.

3. Check your brakes. It is important to make sure that they are in proper working order. If you notice that your brake pedal is touching the floor when you push down on it, a mechanic should inspect them. If you own a more recent vehicle, it may have a warning system that will inform you when your brakes are not working properly.

Performing regular vehicle maintenance can help prevent accidents. However, if you do find your self in an accident, be sure to be subscribed to a road service program that can help you in the event of a roadside emergency.

Road service programs are very important and useful. They offer you assistance when your car breaks down and leaves you stranded. Having a good and reliable road service program can relieve stress and frustration associated with an unexpected vehicle breakdown.

Selecting a good road service program is very important. Different companies provide different types of services. Therefore it is important to compare companies and see what types of services each of them have to offer. Here are some key services to look for:

1. Flat tire assistance
2. Emergency fuel assistance
3. Lockout assistance
4. Towing

These programs are worth subscribing to because they are usually fairly inexpensive and will provide you with a feeling of comfort in the event of a breakdown.

When teens get their licenses, parents are often nervous for them to get behind the wheel for the first time. When teens begin driving without supervision, parents will usually become even more anxious. Every parent is forced to rely on their knowledge that they raised their teen to have good judgment and common sense and to make smart decisions. In order for parents to feel more confident that their teen will make it home safely, here are five tips to help keep teens safe on the road:

1. Do not text while driving. Texting is very distracting and takes away focus and concentration on the road. It is always important to make sure that a driver’s eyes are on the road at all times. Teens should keep the cell phone in the back seat of the car while driving in order to prevent them from getting distracted or being tempted to answer the phone.

2. Be sure to remain hands-free while driving. Talking on the phone while driving can be just as dangerous as texting. If a teen does not have access to Bluetooth, they are using one hand to hold the phone, and therefore will no longer have both hands on the wheel. Keeping the phone in the backseat not only prevents texting but it also prevents answering phone calls as well. It is important for teens to have both hands available at all times while driving.

3. Put a limit on the amount of passengers in the car. Teens often volunteer to drive around several of their friends. Too many passengers can easily become a major distraction for teenage drivers. Therefore, it is a smart idea for teens not to have more than one passenger at a time. Setting the limit to one passenger will minimize the distractions and allow for them to more easily focus on the road.

4. Teens should have a set curfew for when they drive at night. It is much safer for teens if they arrive home at a reasonable time. This will reduce the likeliness of them becoming too tired, not being able to focus on the road, or falling asleep. Also, this will prevent them from being on the road with other unsafe drivers late at night.

5. Keeping the music to a minimum is also a smart idea for teenage drivers. Every teen feels a need to listen to music while driving, but it is important for them to minimize their use of iPods and MP3 players. Worrying about changing songs on such devices can be just as distracting as using a cell phone while driving. Satellite radio is a smart alternative to the use of an iPod or MP3 player.

6. Sign your teen up with a good roadside assistance program. If your teen gets stuck on the side of the road or finds themselves in any kind of roadside emergency it is a good idea for them to be able to call for assistance to help get them safely back on the road.

It may not be easy to enforce a lot of rules or keep your teen safe all of the time, but if there are a limited amount of distractions they are much more likely to return safely home.

In the event that you find yourself stuck on the side of the road in a desolate area, it is extremely important to have an emergency auto kit on hand. If there is no gas stations, shops, or life around it will be difficult to get yourself help. If your cell phone service or OnStar fails you, one of these kits will become vital. What you keep inside your kit will vary due to what climate you are dealing with when stuck. Emergency auto kits can be bought in stores or you can you’re your own. Here are the basics that should be included in an emergency auto kit:

– Water
– Foods such as energy bars, granola bars, dried fruit, or nuts
– Blankets and/or warm packs to keep you warm
– A first aid kit
– Tire changing tools (cars are usually come equipped with these supplies and can be found in your trunk)
– Flashlight and batteries for light
– Road flares or hazard triangles to be used as warning signals
– Necessary car fluids such as oil, antifreeze, water, power steering fluid, and brake fluid (it is smart to bring funnels and rags to help with fluid changes)
– Jumper cables that are 8 to 12 feet long if you need to jump start your car
– A compact multi-purpose tool that provides the basic tools that can help you in an emergency
– Ice scraper
– Paper and pen
– Extra fuses
– Duct tape
– Gloves

Also, it is smart to be signed up with a good roadside assistance program that you can contact in the event of a roadside emergency.

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.

Here are ten important things to keep in mind to ensure you will have a safe drive.

1. Know the basic rules and laws of driving. If you are unclear of some of these or do not remember them you should look them up in a driver’s handbook.

2. Always make sure you and all of your passengers buckle your seatbelts and also ensure your brakes are working properly.

3. Do not drive through standing water.

4. Always make sure there is space around you while you are driving, especially in bad weather. Keep a good amount of distance from curbs and other vehicles.

5. Be cautious when driving through intersections. If there is a green light, still be alert and make sure you don’t see anyone or anything else crossing your path.

6. Make sure you are alert and awake enough to properly and safely operate your vehicle. Be sure you can keep your focus and concentration on the road.

7. Do not become bothered by bad drivers. If someone is tailgating you or speeding, just allow them to pass you.

8. If you need to pass another vehicle, especially larger ones such as trailers and trucks, do not remain in their blind spot.

9. If you are in an area where cars are not moving, it is still important to be aware of your surroundings because a parked car can pull out at any moment and a pedestrian or animal can cross your path unexpectedly if they are not aware you are coming.

10. Be sure if you get stuck on the side of the road, you are a member of a roadside assistance program that can come to your aid.

If you happen to get stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire, it is good to know how to change it. In order to be properly prepared for a flat you should keep a spare tire and lug wrench in your trunk as well as look in your owner’s manual to know where the jack is located. Here are the simple steps to follow in order to change your tire:

1. Be sure to pull over on the side of the road in a spot that is not in the way of traffic. For your safety, select a part of the road that is straight so that other drivers can see you from far away. Also, be sure to be parked on a level surface so that you can safely jack up your vehicle. Lastly, be sure to turn on your hazard lights.

2. Retrieve the tools from your trunk and put them where you can easily obtain them when they are needed.

3. If you have a hubcap, be sure to remove it. Now use the lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts on your wheels. Note that the lug nuts should not be removed they should only be loosened.

4. Jack up the vehicle by placing the jack beneath the car and raising it up until it connects with the car’s frame. Raise the jack until the tire is approximately six inches away from the ground.

5. Take the lug nuts out of the bolts and then pull the wheel towards you and remove it from the car.

6. Put on the spare tire by putting it in front of the wheel well and then by aligning the holes in the spare with the car’s bolts. Put the tire on the bolts than push it as far in as it can go. Put the lug nuts back on the bolts and then tighten them enough to keep the tire in tact while jacking down the car.

7. Lower the car to the ground and then tighten the lug nuts by starting with one of them and then tightening the one directly across from it and continue this pattern until all of them are tightened.

8. Clean up your tools and put them back where you got them. Thoroughly check the area you cleaned up to make sure you don’t miss anything and leave it behind.

Keep in mind that if you are signed up with a roadside assistance program, you can call for help and they will change your tire for you.

There are a lot of things to know about rotating your car’s tires. It is a useful procedure to help keep your tires in the best shape to keep you off the side of the road. However, if you do get stuck you should call for roadside assistance to help you. To help keep you on the road, here are some things to know about rotating your tires:

1. The reason that you should rotate your tires is because of tire wear. By rotating your tires regularly, you can even out the wear on your tires and make them last longer.

2. Depending upon what car you have, it is recommended that you have your tires rotated approximately every five thousand to ten thousand miles. However, since every car is not the same, it is a good idea to check your owner’s manual to know what is the appropriate amount of miles for your car specifically.

3. Rotating your car’s tire is easy to do on your own if your have the necessary equipment to do so. It is important to check the pattern in which you should rotate your tires by reading your owner’s manual. However if you cannot do it yourself, your can bring your car to the shop and get it done professionally.

4. Usually the tires on the right side of your car wear more easily because they are exposed to curbs and other various road hazards. To avoid too much wear switch the tires to the left side of the car. Also, if you own a front-drive car, the front tires will have more wear. Therefore, be sure to check your tires for wear regularly because tire wear is an issue that should be taken care of immediately.

5. By rotating your tires in the proper amount of time will help reduce the cost of daily maintenance on your car. By evening out the wear on your tires, you can get better and longer use out of them, rather than constantly needing to buy new ones. Properly maintained tires help keep you safely on the road.

Vehicle breakdowns never happen at a good time. We all want our cars to be reliable and get us to our intended destination. In order to keep your car on the road there are some basic inspections and maintenance checks you should perform:

First, you should walk around the car and do some visual checks. Check all of your lights and replace any bulbs that no longer work. Also, check the wiper blades and be sure they are not cracked and that the material is not separated from the blade itself. In addition be sure to inspect the tires for low air pressure and uneven wear.

Next, be sure to take a look under the hood of your car. Make sure that your engine drive belts are not loose, cracked, or frayed. Also, check the engine coolant hoses to be sure there are no leaks, loose clamps, or swelling around the clamps. Be sure to also flush and refill your car’s cooling system approximately every twenty-four months. In addition, be sure that your air conditioning system is properly working and cooling off your car in a quick enough amount of time. Make sure that you either change the oil yourself or bring it to the shop to get an oil change when necessary. Also, check the car’s fluids and refill and replace as needed. Such fluids include windshield wiper fluid, automatic transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and brake fluid. Also, have your filters replaced when necessary. It is also important to clean the battery posts and terminal cables as well as inspect them for corrosion and other abnormalities.

Lastly, check underneath your car. Look under your parked car too see if there are any leaking fluids. Also, look and listen for leaks coming from the exhaust system. When you are driving, be sure to check the feel and response of your brakes. If any brake problems are noticed bring the car to the shop for repairs.

Although vehicle breakdowns are preventable, if you do get stuck on the side of the road, be sure to have a reliable roadside assistance program on call that you can contact when you need help.

If your car breaks down on the side of the road it is a good idea to call for roadside assistance. Signing up for a roadside assistance program with a wide variety of roadside benefits is key to getting all the help you need for any possible situation you get stuck in. These are the 5 most common causes to a vehicle breakdown:

One: The battery – A lot of people have had the unfortunate experience of a faulty car battery. We go to turn on the car and the car stutters to start or just won’t start at all. The way to fix this problem would be to use jumper cables or a battery recharger.

Two: Flat tires – Most of us have at one time or another experienced getting a flat tire while driving on the road. If your tire goes flat it is time to replace it with your spare. If your tires are underinflated this will commonly cause you to get a flat so be sure to prevent this issue by checking the tire pressure on a regular basis and be sure to pump it up if your pressure is low.

Three: The Alternator – This is an extremely important part of your car. It produces an alternating electrical current and delivers it to the electrical apparatus in your vehicle such as the battery, radio, headlamps, and windshield wipers. If it is not working the right way, it can fail to charge your battery and if the battery is not charged it can fail to keep your engine running. Therefore be sure to look for signs of your alternator failing.

Four: Starter motor – If the starter motor in your car is failing to work the engine will be unable to start. In order to prevent problems with the starter motor be sure to get regular maintenance and checks from the shop.

Five: Fuel – A lot of people have the tendency to put the wrong type of gasoline into their car or just run out of gas and get stuck on the side of the road. Therefore be sure to know what type of fuel you should be using to fill your tank with then fill your tank with enough gas to get to you to your intended destination before hitting the road.