Waiting for a tow truck to arrive can be a dangerous business. From the risk of other drivers to potential roadside attackers, you never know what you might come up against. Delta Towing of Houston wants you be safe. That’s why we’ve put together this list of five safety tips for you to follow while you await a towing service.
Find a safe place to stop – Just waiting for a tow puts you at great risk, so your first task should be to limit as much of that risk as possible. It’s always best to bring your vehicle to a stop away from busy junctions, as far over to the right of the road as possible. If you can, stop beneath a street light and near easy-to-identify markers. In some cases you’re not going to have a choice where you stop. In this case you need to try and make yourself as safe as possible, which likely means leaving your car.
Try to make your whereabouts well known – The risk of other vehicles veering into your broken down car will be reduced if you let them know where you are. If you have warning triangles or any other markers, set these out 100 yards behind your vehicle. Make sure you switch your hazard lights on too.
Keep your phone line free – You may receive an incoming call from the tow truck company or you may need to call the emergency services. It’s a good idea to keep as much juice in your phone as possible, so avoid using your phone as much as you can. By all means let a family member or friend know where you are.
Be cautious about getting help from strangers – While the help of strangers can be a beautiful thing, it can also put you at risk, thanks to a few lonely souls that get a rush from taking advantage of people in trouble. Just be careful about accepting help from a stranger then. Yes, they might have your best interests at heart, but can you be so sure?
Ask for I.D. – Finally, when the tow truck service arrives, take the time to check that they are who they say they are. There are some unscrupulous towing companies that will swoop in and ‘steal’ a tow and then charge you an arm and a leg. So check any company markings on the tow truck and ask the driver for his I.D. badge. All tow truck operatives should have one.
