Tip #23: With kids in the car, decide in the first minute whether they stay buckled or get out
If the car breaks down with children aboard, the first decision is where everyone is safest. On a highway shoulder that is usually buckled in the car with hazards on, unless the car is in danger, in which case everyone gets out on the side away from traffic and moves well back from the road.
Tip #23 in one line
If the car breaks down with children aboard, the first decision is where everyone is safest. On a highway shoulder that is usually buckled in the car with hazards on, unless the car is in danger, in which case everyone gets out on the side away from traffic and moves well back from the road.
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Call nowThe first minute
Get as far off the road as you can and turn on the hazard lights. Then decide: is the car safe to stay in? If there is smoke, a fuel smell, a fire or the car is stopped in a travel lane where it could be struck, get everyone out through the doors away from traffic and lead them well behind a guardrail or up a bank. Call 911.
If the car is safely on the shoulder and none of that is happening, keep children buckled in their seats. A child loose on a shoulder near moving traffic is in far more danger than one strapped into a car seat.
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Call nowNever leave them alone
Do not leave children in the car while you walk for help or fuel. Cars heat up quickly in summer and get cold quickly in winter, and a breakdown is the moment you lose track of time. If you have to leave the car, they come with you.
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Call nowKeep them calm and comfortable
Bulky winter coats should not be worn under car seat harnesses while driving, but during a long stop it is fine to lay coats or blankets over children who are buckled in. Keep a small emergency kit in the car year-round: water, snacks, a blanket, a flashlight, a phone charger, and a few small toys or books. A first aid kit is worth adding too.
In winter, keep coats on and the engine running for heat only if the tailpipe is clear of snow. In summer, open windows a little if the engine is off. Water, snacks and a charged phone or tablet make a long wait much easier, which is why they belong in a car kit.
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Call nowTell the dispatcher
When you call (908) 444-0129, say how many people are in the car, how many are children, and whether you have car seats. If the car has to be towed, ask the dispatcher how the passengers will get to the destination. Whether anyone can ride in the tow truck depends on the truck and the situation, so ask before you plan around it, and line up a ride if you can.
On roadside jobs like a jump start or flat tire change, the technician works with the truck shielding the car and you stay put. For a tow, see emergency towing.
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Call nowMore on breakdowns
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- What to do when your car breaks down in New Jersey
- Where to tow your car: home, repair shop or dealer?
- Tip #24: Ask the dispatcher about your pet before the tow truck arrives
- Tip #32: Close the trunk, windows and sunroof before the truck pulls away
- Tip #33: Take your valuables with you, or lock them out of sight
- Tip #45: In a parking deck, give the level and the clearance before a truck is sent
- Tip #48: Call 911 for danger, a tow company for a car that will not go
- Tip #50: Tell the dispatcher where, what and which way in the first 30 seconds
- All posts
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