No one expects their car to break down when they are commuting to work or out doing errands. Unfortunately, car problems can occur at any time and are often unexpected. When your car breaks down while you are driving on a freeway, there is a good chance that you will need to contact a towing company to have your car transported to a nearby auto repair shop for repairs. If you ever experience a breakdown while driving on the freeway, it is essential to know what to do to stay safe and protect other drivers while you wait for a tow truck to arrive. Use the following tips to stay safe while waiting for a tow truck.

Pull Over as Far as Possible Off the Freeway

One of the most important things that you can do when your car is malfunctioning on the freeway is get to the side of the roadway and pull over as far as possible. In order to stay safe, you need to be completely out of the path of traffic to help ensure that an accident does not occur. Many freeways have shoulders or safety lanes, so make sure that you pull your car over as far to the right as you can. 

Put Out Flares or Cones

As an automobile owner, it is always a good idea to have an emergency pack in your trunk so that it is available when you need it. Many automotive emergency packs include safety cones or flares that you can use in the event of a breakdown. When your car breaks down on the freeway and you have pulled over on the side of the road, take the time to carefully place the safety cones or flares behind your vehicle. This will help ensure that other drivers see your vehicle so that they can pass by safely while also helping it make it easier for a tow truck driver to find you.

Properly Assess Your Situation

While your car is broken down on the side of the freeway, you will need to assess the situation and determine whether or not you should exit the vehicle. If the freeway has a very narrow shoulder, it is in your best bet to remain in the vehicle; it is much more dangerous to stand outside near your vehicle with traffic passing by at high speeds. When you're in an area with a large shoulder on the road, you can opt to exit your vehicle, but always do so through the passenger side doors and move as far away as possible from the roadway.