Are You Prepared For A Breakdown?

Driving is often something we take for granted. When we hop in our car and turn the key, it’s expected that the will engine turn over and we’ll get to our destination without any problems. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Over the course of your lifetime, it’s almost guaranteed that you will experience a car breakdown – it’s just a matter of when. The next time your car breaks down on the side of the road, will you be prepared?

COMMON CAUSES

The first step in preparing for a car breakdown is learning how you could prevent the situation in the first place. Faulty batteries are the culprit for many breakdowns, so make sure yours is tested regularly and that you never leave any lights on while the engine is turned off.

Damaged tires are another common cause of breakdowns. Overused, worn down tires have a higher chance of blowing out, leaving you stranded on the side of the road. Tires should be replaced every 25,000 to 50,000 miles, depending on how often you drive. Other causes could be alternator faults, fuel problems, starter issues, faulty spark plugs and issues with high-tension leads. Many of these issues can be avoided with regular car maintenance.

CAR BREAKDOWN KIT

Even when taking all of the proper precautions, there is still a possibility of breaking down. It’s important to keep a fully stocked breakdown kit in your car. This kit should have everything you need to properly handle a breakdown when it occurs. It should contain a first-aid kit, a flashlight, a mobile phone charger, a car jack, spare tires, and a tow rope. For extra safety and protection, it is also a good idea to carry a road atlas, high visibility vest, hazard triangles, as well as a bottle of water and non-perishable food like granola bars. These items will prepare you for a myriad of issues that could come up.

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

Once your car breaks down, you’ll need someone to take care of the issue or tow you to a repair shop. It’s important to have a trusted towing company on deck to provide roadside assistance. Put an experienced towing company’s phone number into your mobile phone and keep a note with the number in your car breakdown kit. This will reduce the panic of being stuck on the side of the road – you always know there is someone out there to help.

WHEN THE CAR BREAKS DOWN

After a car breakdown, you need to immediately take control of the situation.  This assessing the situation to see if everyone is safe. Look for the safest place to pull over – as far away from traffic as possible. Next, turn on your hazard lights and turn the car off. Now is the time to contact roadside assistance and anyone who may be waiting on you. Place hazard triangles in front of and behind your vehicle if you can do so safely. Finally, wait in your car until roadside assistance shows up.

DEALING WITH THE SITUATION

When your car breaks down, chances are you will be stressed or even a bit scared. It’s important to take a moment to relax and take a deep breath. This will help you regain your thoughts and take the proper roadside precautions. Don’t worry, roadside assistance will know how to help and you will be driving again in no time.

CALLING THE EXPERTS

Robert Young’s has been serving the roadside and vehicle transporting needs of Southwest Virginia for more than 30 years. With locations in Roanoke, Troutville, Buchanan, Natural Bridge, Rocky Mount, Bedford, Salem and Christiansburg, and a fleet of over 30 tow trucks, Robert Young’s is able to handle every roadside service challenge and meet every towing need.  Offering light duty towing, medium duty towing, heavy duty towing, specialized trailer transport, and private party impound, one or more of our tow vehicles are always out on the road providing quality service to both individual and commercial customers somewhere in Southwest Virginia.  Readily available 24/7/365, contact Robert Young’s to get a truck dispatched to your location either now, or at a planned time of your choosing.  Reach us online, or call us now at (540) 982-3809!

The 6 Most Dangerous Times To Drive.

Tow truck drivers have seen it all when it comes to auto accidents. With so many drivers on the roads, there always going to be an inherent risk when driving, but there are certain times that are much more dangerous than others.

Be careful of these 6 most dangerous times to drive:

1. Evening Rush Hour

While morning rush hour is also a dangerous time to drive, evening rush hour edges it out due to the sheer number of drivers that are now tired from a long day’s work. This, combined with the added focus of getting home as quickly as possible, makes even rush hour the most dangerous time of the day for driving.

2. Saturday

Traffic fatalities are at their highest over the weekend, with Saturday seeing the most accidents. The number of fatalities on a Saturday is almost double the average for weekdays, which makes sense when you consider the higher number of vehicles traveling on weekends, namely Saturdays.

3. Summer

One of the most dangerous times of the year to drive in is during the summer months, with August and June being two of the most dangerous, followed by September. Summer vacations play a big role in this, especially with younger drivers, leading to a higher number of accidents during these months compared to any other.

4. Fourth of July

Most national holidays are dangerous times to drive, but the Fourth of July has long been one of the most dangerous. Festivities tend to play a role in this, along with the fact that most people are off work and likely traveling somewhere to celebrate.

5. Holiday Season

The holiday season begins around Thanksgiving and runs until after the New Year, and these are some of the most dangerous times to be on the roads. Families around the country travel far and wide to be with loved ones over the holidays, and the roads are a lot busier as a result.

This makes it very dangerous, especially on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving.

6. Winter

This goes hand in hand with the holiday season, as the winter weather coincides with the festive period for most of the country. Because of winter weather, roads become significantly more dangerous, with ice and snow causing a huge number of accidents.

Not all areas of the country suffer from severe winter weather, but those that do face increased dangers when hitting the road.

Robert Young’s has been serving the roadside and vehicle transporting needs of Southwest Virginia for more than 30 years. With locations in Roanoke, Troutville, Buchanan, Natural Bridge, Rocky Mount, Bedford, Salem and Christiansburg, and a fleet of over 30 tow trucks, Robert Young’s is able to handle every roadside service challenge and meet every towing need.  Offering light duty towing, medium duty towing, heavy duty towing, specialized trailer transport, and private party impound, one or more of our tow vehicles are always out on the road providing quality service to both individual and commercial customers somewhere in Southwest Virginia.  Readily available 24/7/365, contact Robert Young’s to get a truck dispatched to your location either now, or at a planned time of your choosing.  Reach us online, or call us now at (540) 982-3809!