I have lost count of the number of times I have arrived at a night service and found the driver out of the car, walking down the track without a vest on or without the V16 lights attached to the roof of the car. It shows on your face: the stress of being stranded in the dark makes you make mistakes that can be costly.
As a towing professional, I can tell you that being in an accident at night is not only a mechanical problem, it is a real risk situation. Here I explain clearly what you have to do to hold the situation until we arrive with the equipment.
The real danger is not the breakdown, it's the visibility.
When the car stops at night, you go from being a driver to being an invisible obstacle. The biggest risk is that another vehicle will not see you in time.
Get noticed before it's too late
The first thing is not to open the hood to see what’s wrong with the engine. The first thing to do is to turn on the emergency lights and place the V-16 light on the roof without getting out of the car. If you have to set up the triangles, make sure there is sufficient visibility; if not, stay inside. It does you no good to fix the car if you risk going down the track.
You may also be interested in: V16 lights: when they are mandatory, fines and common mistakes.
Waiting on the road: Keep your head cool
I understand that sitting there, watching trucks pass by and shaking your car, gets on anyone’s nerves. But going out to “stretch your legs” is the most common and dangerous mistake.
The car is your best protection
Unless there is a fire hazard or the car is in the middle of the road, stay inside with your seat belt on. It’s your safety bubble. No matter how much of a hurry you are in or how much the darkness overwhelms you, you are safer there than walking along the side of the road. Take the opportunity to send us your exact location by WhatsApp; this saves us all time and allows us to get straight to where you are.
Why does the wait take so long?
The night is deceiving. The noises get louder and assistance never seems to arrive. It’s the typical feeling of being stranded on the road alone. For this reason, we recommend the following:
- Don't drain your cell phone battery: You will need your phone to coordinate with the towing service. Use it for the right things.
- Confirm arrival time: When talking to the operator, ask for an actual estimated time. Knowing that the tow truck is 30 minutes away takes away the uncertainty all at once.
- Keep calm with traffic: You will feel cars passing close by. This is normal. Trust that your lights are doing their job.
The arrival of the towing service
When you see the lights of the tow truck, you will feel immediate relief. This is the time to return to “driver” mode. Verify that the crane is the one you requested and let the professional take the reins. You’ve come through the worst of it and you’ve done it while maintaining control.
In short, being stranded at night is a “problem” that no one wants to go through, but remember that you are not alone in this. As soon as you hang up the phone, we are already activating the fastest route to your location. Your only mission is to stay safe inside the car. Once we engage the vehicle, the danger is over and the solution is on its way. Call us, stay safe and leave the rest in the hands of professionals.
