When you are driving your vehicle and you are idling at a light and the light turns green, you expect your vehicle to accelerate when you push on the gas. However, things in life don't always go how you plan on them going. If your vehicle just stops and will not start or turn on when you are stopped at a light, here is what you need to do.
Turn on Your Emergency Lights
The first thing you need to do is turn on your emergency flashing lights. This will help alert vehicles who are approaching from behind you recognize that your vehicle is not moving. You should also turn on your driving lights if your vehicle doesn't turn them on automatically. You want your vehicle to be visible and easy to identify as stationary to anyone approaching.
Keep Your Car in Place
If your car will not start, you don't want it to suddenly start rolling forwards or backward. Put on your emergency brake and put your transmission in neutral. This will help keep your car from rolling in a direction you don't want it to go.
Put Out Flares or Cones
If you have either emergency flares or cones, get them out of your trunk and put them around your vehicle so that approaching vehicles can see that your vehicle is broken down. If you can't safely do this due to road traffic, don't put your safety at risk to put out emergency flares or cones.
Call for Help
Next, you should call for help. You should call your roadside assistance number and see if they can send someone out to you. Let them know the intersection and city where you broke down and let them know the make, model, and color of your vehicle.
Your roadside assistance contact will want to know what is wrong with your vehicle. If you are not sure if you just need a jump or if you need a tow, it is generally better to just ask for a tow to the auto repair shop of your choice. That way, a tow truck and not just an emergency assistance truck with a jumper battery will be sent to you.
Also, if you don't feel that you or your vehicle is safe, ask the emergency roadside assistance number if they can also call the police for you.
Get Your Vehicle to the Side of the Road
If people stop to assist you, see if you can all push your vehicle to the side of the road. You are generally going to need at least two strong, able-bodied people to push the vehicle, as well as one person to sit and steer the vehicle. Keep in mind that your power steering will not be activated, and more strength than normal will be required to push the vehicle to the side of the road.
If your vehicle breaks down at a stoplight and will not start again, you need to take steps to ensure your vehicle as visible as possible. Then, you need to call your roadside assistance number for help and let them know that you need a tow. Breaking down with a vehicle you can't move is scary, but you can get through this experience by staying calm. Reach out to a company like Green's Towing & Auto Repair Inc for more information.
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