One of the best things about having a modern road system is that the law rules. Everyone shares the road and every kind of vehicle has equal claim to the streets. But this equality comes with a cost. When a motorist needs to use the shoulder, which is usually a helpful option, they can easily become victim to drivers who are driving drunk or distracted. Too often, these kinds of situation have resulted in tragedy. In order to help you avoid being in an accident while you use the shoulder – to fix a flat tire or for any other reason – follow these tips:
Pull All the Way Over
If you find that you have to stop on the shoulder of a major highway or roadway, be sure to pull all the way over in order to avoid leaving part your vehicle in harm’s way. The farther you are from the roadways the less likely a passing driver is to collide with you.
Use Flares
One of the best ways to alert drivers to the fact that you are stopped on the shoulder is to use flares. Depending on the quantity of flares you have, they should be set up several hundred feet before your car, in the direction of oncoming traffic, so that the other drivers have an opportunity to prepare and avoid a collision. Flares should be used regardless if it is day or night.
Call for Help
Sometimes it seems like it is easier to do nothing than ask for help. But in the case you find yourself stranded on the should of a roadway without the extra gas or spare tire you need to make it to your destination, it is a far better idea to call someone for help than to simply sit in the car and hope it will all work itself out.
Automobile accidents can be devastating, even deadly. If you have been the victim of a serious automobile accident, whether you believe it was you fault or not, call the attorneys at Hirschi Steele & Baer, PLLC at 801-990-0500 or contact us online now!
