Are you prepared for the worst on the road? Is your spare wheel checked and ready to replace a flat? Do you have a medical kit at hand? Do you know what the protocol is when you are involved in an accident? These are all questions most people sadly wished they had asked before being in one of the situations mentioned above. So many people get behind the wheel of a car and have no idea whatsoever how to respond when they find themselves standing next to the road in the rain with a flat wheel and no spanner. We will be shedding light on some useful tips that you should know about when you find yourself in a little predicament like those mentioned above.

When involved in an accident

When you or anyone you know is involved in an accident, there are a few things that should be kept in mind. First of all you should determine if any injuries where sustained by the accident. If no-one is injured in an accident it is safe to move the vehicles to the side of the road or to wherever else is safe. If someone has been injured however, you would have to leave everything as it is until the police and ambulance arrive. Another thing that one should remember when you are involved in an accident is to always take the details of all parties involved. This includes ID numbers, phone numbers, insurance numbers and so forth. Also make sure to share your details and take the details of both cars (registration numbers, model etc.), this helps with the process when claiming from insurance. It is always a good thing to have important numbers and details saved on your phone or stored some place where you can easily find it when you need it.

When your car breaks down

Most people (especially woman, not to be sexist) don’t know what to do or how to act when they find themselves in the uncomfortable position standing on the side of the road in the rain with a broken down car. To be honest, not everyone knows what to look at when they have smoke coming out of their engine, but there are a few precautions one can take to prevent your car from braking down. Always check the oil, water and tyre pressure before embarking on a journey. Once again you can’t go wrong by storing relevant numbers on your phone. Even if it does fell as if your world is falling apart, don’t panic. Here is a list of some essentials to take along on every journey to avoid sticky situations:

• a torch, first aid kit, road safety signs, traffic cone, cell phone, jumper cables, a tow rope and a raincoat.

Other than what we’ve already mentioned, there are a few more tips to consider such as pulling over as far off the side of the road as possible, stopping on a level surface when changing your wheel and try not to stop on a bend.