What to Do When Your Car Breaks Down on the Highway

Few situations are more stressful than having your car break down on a busy highway. One moment you're cruising along, and the next, you're dealing with strange noises, warning lights, or complete engine failure. The good news is that knowing what to do can make all the difference in staying safe and getting back on the road quickly.

First Priority: Get to Safety

The moment you realize something's wrong with your vehicle, your immediate goal should be getting to a safe location. Don't try to limp along for miles hoping the problem will resolve itself. If you can, carefully navigate to the right shoulder of the highway. Use your turn signal, check your mirrors, and move over gradually.

Once you're on the shoulder, try to get your car as far from the travel lane as possible. The extra few feet can make a huge difference if another vehicle swerves onto the shoulder. If you can safely reach an exit ramp or rest area, that's even better. However, don't risk crossing multiple lanes of traffic or making dangerous maneuvers.

Make Your Vehicle Visible

After you've stopped, turn on your hazard lights immediately. This alerts other drivers that you're disabled and not just pulled over temporarily. If it's dark outside or visibility is poor due to weather, this becomes even more critical.

If you have emergency triangles or road flares in your car, now's the time to use them. Place them behind your vehicle at intervals—ideally one about 10 feet back, another at 100 feet, and a third at 200 feet. This gives approaching drivers plenty of warning. Just be extremely careful when placing these markers; never turn your back to oncoming traffic.

Stay Inside Your Vehicle

Here's something many people get wrong: in most situations, the safest place is inside your vehicle with your seatbelt fastened. The shoulder of a highway is an incredibly dangerous place to be standing around. Distracted drivers, weather conditions, or simple bad luck can lead to tragic accidents.

The exception to this rule is if you smell gasoline, see smoke, or believe there's a fire risk. In those cases, get everyone out of the vehicle and move well away from it, preferably behind a guardrail if one exists. Otherwise, stay put and let your car's frame provide protection.

Call for Help Right Away

Don't waste time trying to diagnose the problem yourself on the side of a busy highway. Call for professional help immediately. If you have a reliable towing service saved in your phone, that's ideal. For residents in our area, Howell Township Towing Service offers 24/7 emergency assistance and can usually reach you within 30 minutes.

When you call, be prepared to provide your exact location. Use mile markers, exit numbers, or landmarks to help the dispatcher locate you. Mention any special circumstances—like if you're in a particularly dangerous spot, have children in the car, or if the weather is severe.

What Not to Do

Resist the urge to accept help from strangers. While most people have good intentions, it's safer to wait for professional assistance. Politely decline offers and let people know that help is already on the way.

Don't try to push your car or make repairs on the shoulder. Attempting to change a tire on a busy highway, for example, puts you in serious danger. A professional towing service can either fix simple issues safely or transport your vehicle to a proper repair facility.

Avoid the temptation to leave your vehicle and walk to the nearest exit. Highways aren't designed for pedestrians, and walking along them is extremely risky. You're better off staying with your car and letting emergency services come to you.

Be Prepared Before It Happens

The best time to prepare for a breakdown is before it happens. Keep an emergency kit in your trunk with items like water, non-perishable snacks, a first-aid kit, blankets, a flashlight with extra batteries, and a phone charger. These supplies can make a stressful situation much more manageable.

Make sure your cell phone is charged before long trips, and consider keeping a portable charger in your car. Save the number of a reliable towing service in your contacts so you're not searching for help when you're already stressed.

Regular vehicle maintenance goes a long way toward preventing breakdowns. Check your tire pressure monthly, keep up with oil changes, and address any warning lights or unusual sounds promptly. An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure.

Final Thoughts

Breaking down on the highway is never fun, but it doesn't have to be a disaster. By staying calm, prioritizing safety, and calling for professional help right away, you can handle the situation effectively. Remember that your safety and that of your passengers is more important than any inconvenience or cost.

If you find yourself stranded on a New Jersey highway, don't hesitate to reach out to our team. We understand that these situations are stressful, and we're here to get you to safety as quickly as possible. Keep our number handy—you never know when you might need it.