How to Stay Safe When You Have Car Trouble on the Highway

Losing power, blowing a tire, or overheating in highway traffic is stressful — and genuinely dangerous. Around the south metro, I-75, I-285 and I-675 move fast and rarely have much shoulder. The goal is simple: get yourself as far from moving traffic as possible, make yourself visible, and let the professionals handle the vehicle.

Get Off the Road If You Can

The moment you sense trouble, turn on your hazard lights so drivers behind you know something's wrong. Signal and work your way to the right shoulder, and if there's an exit or wide pull-off within reach, take it — the farther from live lanes, the better. Get the car as far onto the shoulder as you safely can and straighten the wheels. If you can coast to a parking lot or gas station, that's far safer than any shoulder.

Should You Stay in the Car?

This depends on where you end up. If you're stopped in a dangerous spot — a narrow shoulder, a blind curve, or heavy fast traffic — the safest choice is usually to stay buckled in with your hazards on and call for help. Standing next to a car on a busy highway shoulder is one of the most dangerous things you can do. If you can get well away from traffic, exit through the door away from the road and wait behind a guardrail or up an embankment. Never stand between your vehicle and oncoming traffic, and never try to make repairs on the traffic side.

Make Yourself Visible

• Keep your hazard lights on the entire time
• At night, turn on your interior dome light
• If you have reflective triangles or flares, place them well behind the vehicle
• Raise the hood if it's safe to do so, as a signal of distress

Visibility is everything. Most highway breakdown injuries happen because another driver simply didn't see the stopped car in time.

Call for Help — and Know When to Call 911

If you feel unsafe, if you're stranded in a live lane, or if anyone is injured, call 911 first. For a vehicle that just needs to get off the highway and to a shop or home, call a tow. Give the dispatcher your exact location — the highway, your direction of travel, and the nearest mile marker or exit — so help can find you quickly.

We'll Come to You

Kelley's Towing runs light-duty towing and roadside assistance across Ellenwood and the south metro, seven days a week. If you're stuck on the shoulder, stay safe, stay visible, and let us do the dangerous part. Call 470-948-2418 and we'll head your way.