Imagine
this scenario: One night you’re driving home from netball training and the kids
are fighting in the back seat of the car. There are two ways you can drive home:
the long way in a well populated area, or the short way which is along an
isolated road without lighting.
Exhausted,
cold and hungry you decide to go the short way – something you never usually do
at night – in an effort to get everyone home quickly. As you are halfway along
the dark, remote road you hear a thud, a clunk and realise that one of the
tyres on the car has gone flat. Great! Just what you needed!
Here
are some tips to help you keep calm, safe and get help as quickly as possible:
- Although this may be
obvious, avoid travelling on isolated roads at night if possible. Breaking
down in a well-populated area is not nearly as bad. If you are low on
petrol or have had car trouble in the past, always choose a well-populated
route.
- Ensure your mobile
phone is always charged and have a back-up charger in the car for
emergencies.
- If you do find yourself
stranded, try and keep calm so your children don’t start to get anxious.
They can easily pick up on signs of panic and you don’t need them to be
freaking out in addition to having to solve car troubles!
- If you know someone who
is nearby, call them first to come and pick you up. You can always deal
with the car later by calling roadside assistance or attending to it the
next day.
- Stay in the car and use
a blanket to keep yourself and the kids warm till help arrives.
- If a passing motorist
offers help, it’s best not to get out of the car to talk to them, just to
be safe. Instead, tell them that you are fine and have help coming right
away. Keep your mobile phone in your hand and call the police if you feel
unsafe.
Although
it’s not pleasant to think about the possibility of being in this situation, a
little thought and planning can be the difference between a smooth ride home
and a stressful emergency.
