Have A Flat Tire? 3 Dangerous Conditions Where You Should Call For Help Instead Of Changing A Flat Tire Yourself
While many people are able to change their own flat tires, sometimes it is better to call for a towing service or roadside assistance to help, especially when there are dangerous conditions. In 2014, a Fort Lauderdale firefighter lost his life when a vehicle struck him while he was changing a flat tire. Here are three conditions that could result in a dangerous situation if you attempted to change a flat tire:
Your vehicle is stopped on a hill
If your vehicle is on a hill, it would be difficult or impossible to jack the car up to change a flat tire. While it is somewhat possible to chock the good tires and carefully jack a car up, it's probably not a risk worth taking. Instead, call a towing service to tow your vehicle to a shop where the tire can be safely changed. Do not attempt to drive the vehicle to a flatter spot as you could damage the rim, which could make it a more expensive repair when getting the flat tire replaced or repaired.
It's too dark for other drivers to see you
If it's too dark for other drivers to see you changing a flat tire, they may hit you and/or your vehicle or cause an accident when attempting to avoid you at the last minute. If you do not have flares or hazard signs to place along the roadside at a safe distance behind your vehicle, it would be safer to call a towing service or someone who provides roadside assistance. Tow trucks have flashing lights that can alert oncoming traffic that there is a hazard ahead of them.
Your vehicle sits on a dangerous curve
If your vehicle is stopped in or near a dangerous curve, oncoming motorists may not be able to see you until it's too late for them to avoid you, especially if there are trees and other obstructions blocking their view of you until the last minute. Also, they may not be able to see far enough ahead to look for oncoming traffic if they need to swerve over the center line to get out of your way.
In conclusion, it's important to take safety precautions when waiting for a towing service. Do not sit inside your vehicle if it is not in a safe location. Instead, exit your vehicle and wait behind the vehicle, away from the roadway. The reason for this is so you will be safe if another driver cannot avoid hitting your vehicle.
Contact a company like Naylor Towing for more information and assistance.
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