Stuck on the Side of the Road? Here Are a Few Good Safety Tips
Stuck on the Side of the Road? Here Are a Few Good Safety Tips
Posted on July 29, 2021
Driving a semi-truck can be exciting and fun. You get to see new sights and scenery on a daily basis. However, your fun adventure can quickly turn to panic and frustration if you notice that your truck is not operating properly. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe if you ever find yourself and your truck stranded on the side of the road.
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Stay Calm
If you notice that your truck has suddenly stopped working properly, the most important thing that you can do is not to panic. Instead, calmly find a safe place to pull over that is out of the way of traffic. Preferably, you will want to find a parking lot or other area that is completely away from oncoming drivers. However, if you are unable to do that, try to at least make sure that your truck is completely on the shoulder of the road.
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Turn On Your Emergency Lights
Once you have found a safe place to pull over, turn your hazard lights on. Even if you break down in the middle of the day, having your hazard lights on will get the attention of other drivers on the road and alert them that you are on the side of the road and not moving. This will help you to avoid a potential accident.
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Call For Help
If you are unable to get your truck running, your only option is to call for assistance. When calling a roadside assistance crew, be sure to tell them that you are in a large semi-truck. The crew will need to bring their heavy-duty equipment in order to tow your vehicle to safety.
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Don't Go Outside
While you are waiting for help to arrive, it is a good idea that you stay inside of your truck or stay in a nearby store or service station. Whatever you do, make sure that you are not standing by the road waiting on help to arrive. If you are standing by the road, other drivers may not be able to clearly see you and could cause you to get severely injured.
There is a common misconception that if you are on the side of a road in a semi-truck, then you are automatically safer than if you were in a light-duty truck. While semi-trucks do offer a bit of protection and are more visible to other drivers on the road, there is still a level of danger that you face when you are sitting on the side of the road in any vehicle.
If you find that your truck is not working properly, please do not hesitate to contact us today. Our experienced service technicians can bring your truck in and have it repaired in a timely manner.