Must Do This When Your Car Breaks Down on the Highway: No Need to Panic!
Driving your own car certainly makes it easier for us to move freely without relying on others. Especially when there are many activities outside or often out of town. However, no matter how often we drive, we will surely feel panicked when the car breaks down on the highway, right?
If that happens, the first thing you should do is not to panic! Even though the highway is busy at that moment, don’t panic. Panic will only worsen the situation, and we won’t be able to think calmly to find a solution.
When you can control your own attitude, the things you must do when your car breaks down on the highway are as follows.
Pull Over to the Shoulder of the Road
If possible, pulling over to the shoulder of the road is a mandatory action to take when breaking down anywhere. The goal is to avoid disrupting the existing traffic.
By pulling over to the shoulder, you will also be safer from the flow of other vehicles, thus minimizing the risk of being hit or sideswiped.
Turn on the Hazard Lights
Once the car is pulled over, don’t forget to turn on the hazard lights. The flashing hazard lights will signal to other drivers that there is a parked car ahead, so they will be more cautious while passing.
Do Not Wait Inside the Car
Once the car is successfully pulled over and the hazard lights are on, the next thing you must do is not wait inside the car. This is a mandatory action for your safety.
The reason for prohibiting drivers from waiting inside the car when it breaks down is that we do not know what caused the car to break down. It could be due to a short circuit in the engine, which could worsen over time, making it dangerous for the driver to remain inside.
Contact the Official Towing Service and Ignore Illegal Tow Trucks!
Call 14080 as the official towing service number from the toll road operator. Do not just order any towing service, especially those offering illegal towing services on the road. This can be dangerous because they do not provide any protection.
Therefore, to avoid anything that could endanger you, it is better to use services that are officially recognized by the government and have a high level of protection.
The official towing service will not charge any fees if you break down on the highway. Later, your car will be towed to the nearest toll gate. Subsequently, if you want to be taken directly to a workshop, a fee will be charged.
Towing Service Fees at the Request of the Driver
The towing fees at the request of the driver to the desired location are regulated by government regulations, so they cannot be arbitrarily changed by the towing service.
If your car is a sedan or a jeep, the towing fee is Rp20,000 per 10 kilometers. If the distance is more than 20 kilometers, a fee of Rp35,000 will be charged, followed by Rp10,000 for every additional 5 kilometers.
How Long Will the Tow Truck Take to Arrive?
Once you have contacted the official toll service number, all you need to do is wait. It may take a little time, especially if the location is quite far and the traffic is heavy.
The toll service states that the tow truck will arrive in approximately 30 minutes after being contacted. The staff will assist in towing the car according to the protocol to ensure that traffic continues to flow smoothly and your car can be safely rescued.
These are the things you must do when your car breaks down on the highway. So, there’s no need to panic, because everything has its own rules, and we are facilitated by the available services.
However, for preventive measures to avoid recurrence, we must regularly check the condition of the vehicle to feel safer. Always drive carefully!
The Daihatsu Rocky is the latest car model with the latest safety standards from Japan. This car was publicly released in Indonesia in April 2021 and can be easily ordered. For those interested in Rocky, you can fill out a form to download the brochure.
Author: Nisa Maulan Shofa
