A dead battery on a lonely stretch of highway, a flat tire under summer sun, a grinding noise that makes you pull over right away. When your vehicle calls it quits and you need a tow truck, the few minutes or hours between breakdown and rescue can be the riskiest part of the day. The road never stops moving, and neither do its hazards. Staying safe is less about one perfect move and more about small, steady choices that protect you while you wait.
I’ve spent years around roadside operations, and the patterns stand out. People get into trouble not because they panic, but because they misjudge what other drivers see, or they try to fix too much in a dangerous spot, or they forget how quickly a shoulder can become a trap. The good news is that a handful of key habits go a long way. Think of safety as a sequence: make your vehicle visible, put space between you and traffic, communicate clearly with your tow provider, and stay patient.
First decisions matter most
When something feels wrong behind the wheel, how you slow down and where you stop can determine almost everything that follows. Your goal is clear sightlines, firm ground, and distance from moving traffic. If the car is still rolling, choose your stopping point like you would choose a diving board — stable, open, and away from turbulence.
I’ve watched drivers pull onto the left shoulder because it was closest, only to realize they’re inches from fast traffic with hardly any escape room. Whenever possible, ease toward the right shoulder, an exit ramp, or a wide turnout. If you have to travel a few hundred yards to reach a safer place, that trade is usually worth it. Use your signals, reduce speed gradually, and keep your steering deliberate so the drivers behind you can predict your path.
If the engine dies in a bad spot — a blind curve, the crest of a hill, a narrow bridge — your best chance is momentum and angle. Coast as far as you safely can, steer away from the lane, and stop with your wheels turned toward the curb or barrier so the car will not roll back into traffic if it’s bumped. If the vehicle cannot move at all and you are exposed in a live lane, prioritize getting yourself and passengers to a safe area once traffic allows, even if the car stays behind. Property can be replaced. People cannot.
Make yourself visible without turning the scene into a circus
Once you’ve stopped, visibility becomes your primary defense. Other drivers will not read your mind. They will read the lights, angles, and cues you give them. Hazard lights should be on immediately; they broadcast the simplest message: something is wrong, slow down.
If you have reflective triangles, place them carefully. The distances vary with speed. On a city street, a single triangle 25 to 50 feet behind the car can help. On a highway, space three of them so approaching drivers get a graded warning — one roughly 10 feet behind the vehicle, one about 100 feet back, and the last 200 to 300 feet back if you can place it safely. If shoulder space is scarce or if walking back puts you at risk, skip the furthest placement. Safety beats perfection.
A reflective vest is more than a bright shirt. At dusk, dawn, or in rain, it changes your silhouette from “confusing shape” to “human.” I keep one stuffed under the driver’s seat. It weighs nothing and can save your life. If you do not have one, a light-colored jacket is better than nothing.
Night creates its own problems. Headlights from oncoming traffic will backlight you, and your own headlights can blind the tow operator when they arrive. If you can, angle your car so your headlights aim away from where you plan to stand. A small flashlight set to a steady beam (not a strobe) helps you see and be seen without distracting drivers. On the other hand, signaling with a phone flashlight toward traffic can distract and confuse. Keep the best Tucson tow company beam down unless you’re guiding the tow truck into position at close range.
Where to wait: inside, outside, or away
People often ask whether it is safer to stay inside the vehicle or stand outside. The truthful answer is that it depends on where you’ve stopped and what the surroundings look like. The rule of thumb I use: if you are on a narrow shoulder or any spot where a sideswipe is plausible, create distance from the traffic side. That may mean getting out through the passenger door and waiting well away from the vehicle, behind a guardrail if one exists. If you are in a broad turnout or parking area with plenty of buffer, staying inside with doors locked and seat belt on can be fine, especially in areas where pedestrians are at risk or the weather is harsh.
Children and pets change the calculus. A dog that slips a leash near a highway is an emergency you do not want. If it’s safe to remain in the vehicle, keep pets inside with windows cracked for airflow. For kids, keep them buckled unless you must exit due to an unsafe shoulder or smoke from the engine. If you need to stand outside, herd everyone to a single spot, away from the traffic side, and keep them there. Wandering among open doors invites disaster.
If you must exit, watch the first step. Drivers often step into the live lane side without realizing how close the mirror of a passing pickup will be. Use the passenger door when possible. Close doors promptly. An open door projects twelve to eighteen inches into the lane, and the next driver’s glance at a text may coincide with that extra footprint.
Communicate with the tow company like a pro
A tow truck driver is your best ally, but only if they can find you, identify you, and prepare the right equipment. When you call, start with location. Mention the road name, direction of travel, and the nearest mile marker or landmark. “Southbound on I‑5, just past exit 172, right shoulder” beats “somewhere near the airport.” If you don’t see a mile marker, use your phone map and give cross streets or GPS coordinates.
Describe the vehicle’s state in plain terms: operable or not, flat tire front right or rear left, dead battery, steam from the radiator, smoke from under the hood, or oil on the ground. If the car sits low because of a broken suspension or flat tire, say that — it tells the operator whether they need a flatbed, dollies, or a wheel lift. Mention any special considerations: low clearance, AWD or 4WD, an aftermarket air dam that scrapes easily, or a loaded trailer. The right information shortens your wait and prevents awkward surprises when the truck arrives.
Most reputable dispatchers will give you an ETA and the company name. Ask for the driver’s name, truck number, and a callback number. Save them to your phone. If another tow shows up unannounced, call dispatch to verify before you engage. This is not paranoia. While rare, opportunistic scammers have been known to solicit on busy corridors. A sixty-second check keeps control in your hands.
Text updates help, but confirm critical details by voice. If you need to change your location — for example, move from the shoulder to a nearby lot — tell the dispatcher. Tow truck drivers sometimes scan a shoulder for a specific car. If you relocate without notice, you might miss each other by a few minutes and add an hour to your wait.
Weather, night, and other real-world quirks
Weather magnifies risk. Rain increases stopping distance and hides reflective surfaces under a smear of water. If the shoulder slopes, your feet will be slick. Treat painted lines like ice. In heavy rain, move farther from the lane than you think necessary. Trucks throw sheets of water that can knock you off balance.
Snow brings visibility problems and traction issues for both you and the tow truck. If you can clear snow from your lights and rear reflectors without standing near the lane, do it. Brush the top of the vehicle too. Snow sliding forward onto the windshield or backward onto the rear window will hide your signals. In extreme cold, limit time outside. Start the car periodically to warm up if it runs safely and you have adequate airflow around the exhaust. If you smell exhaust or see snow packed around the tailpipe, shut it down, clear the pipe, and ventilate. Carbon monoxide kills silently, even with a window slightly open.
Night demands patience. You will feel invisible, and sometimes you are. Strong light attracts attention, but it can also blind. Position any portable light low and angled toward the ground to illuminate your silhouette, not to challenge traffic. Reflective triangles and a reflective vest outshine the latest phone flashlight in this scenario because they do not add glare.
Heat is its own hazard. On a 95 degree day, a car interior can climb past 120 in minutes. If the engine is dead and you cannot run the AC, prioritize shade. A reflective sunshade and open windows on the non-traffic side help. If you need to step out, bring water and avoid standing on asphalt for long stretches, especially with kids or older adults. Heat exhaustion creeps in quietly.
What to do and what not to do while you wait
Everything you do either reduces or increases exposure. Resist the urge to fix more than you should on the shoulder. I have changed countless tires, but I refuse to do it on a left shoulder, a narrow bridge, or anywhere traffic whips by at highway speeds. The fastest wrench in the world cannot outrun a distracted driver.
If the breakdown seems simple, such as a dead battery in a safe parking lot, by all means use your jumper cables or portable booster. If you are on an incline or if the battery sits under a seat or crowded cowl where you cannot clearly see connections, leave it. Wrongly attached cables can fry an alternator or ECU. The money you “save” evaporates quickly.
Engine smoke or a burning smell means step away. Steam from an overheated radiator is different from smoke from an electrical short. Steam has a hot, sweet smell if coolant is burning off. Electrical smoke smells sharp, almost like heated plastic. Either way, treat it seriously. Do not pop the radiator cap on a hot engine. If you see flames, move far upwind and call 911. Tow trucks carry extinguishers, but a late stop by a good Samaritan is not guaranteed.
Lock the doors if you remain inside. If someone stops to “help,” crack the window and speak through it. Thank them, and explain that assistance is on the way. Most people mean well, but staying cautious costs nothing. If the first thing a stranger does is ask you to step out or hand over your keys, decline and wait for your verified tow.
Sharing information accelerates the rescue
When you request service through a roadside assistance app, you’ll often be asked to share location and a photo. A quick photo of the car’s position, the shoulder width, and any obstacles like a guardrail or ditch tells the tow operator more than a paragraph. If you are in a tight spot, a second photo looking back toward approaching traffic shows how they should stage the truck.
Mention any access issues: a gated community, a parking garage with low clearance, or a steep driveway. Flatbeds need height and space to tilt the deck. If your vehicle has an electronic parking brake that requires power to release, say so. Many modern vehicles also require special procedures to shift into neutral when the engine is off. If you know the workaround from your owner’s manual, you can tell the driver, otherwise let them handle it. Forcing a transmission into neutral without the correct sequence can damage it.
Children, elders, and pets: special considerations
With kids, boredom can lead to door-opening and curb-darting. Keep doors locked and use child locks if you are inside. If you are outside, make a game of staying on a “safe island,” like a patch of gravel away from the shoulder. Snacks and water help. If the wait gets long, rotate activities: five minutes of conversation, five minutes of a show, then a small walk away from traffic if the setting allows.
Elders may need shade, a chair, or medication access. If an older passenger is unsteady, do not have them hover near the edge of the shoulder. Set them back from the road on level ground. If heat or cold threatens their health before the tow arrives, call dispatch to escalate the priority and consider dialing non-emergency services for a welfare check if the situation worsens.
Pets should be leashed before any door opens. A frightened cat or dog will bolt. Keep water handy and avoid asphalt in extreme heat to protect paw pads. Do not tie a leash to a car door handle near the traffic side. A sudden tug could swing the door outward.
The tow truck approach: how to help without getting in the way
When the tow truck turns up, let them stage the scene. A professional operator will angle the truck to create a protective shadow for your vehicle and will likely ask you to stay in a certain spot. Follow their instructions. They are thinking about blind spots you may not see.
Have your keys ready and your transmission status known. If the vehicle has an aftermarket theft device or a steering wheel lock, mention it. Some cars require a special key or sequence to release the steering. If your car sits low, tell the operator about any custom bodywork or undercarriage shields that snag easily so they can use ramps or wood blocks to increase the approach angle.
Payment and paperwork can usually happen after the vehicle is secure. If you are paying out of pocket, clarify the tow destination and any storage fees before the vehicle leaves. Ask whether the price includes mileage, hookup, and fuel surcharge. Clear agreements reduce friction later, especially if the tow must cross county lines or reach a dealer after hours.
If you cannot get a tow immediately
Occasionally, storms, region-wide power outages, or peak hours stretch response times. If you are low on phone battery and stuck for a while, ration power. Reduce screen brightness, close unnecessary apps, and switch to low power mode. If another vehicle in your group is present, keep one phone on for updates and power the other off to preserve it as a backup.
If you are blocking traffic in a dangerous spot and help is delayed, call the non-emergency police number, or 911 if the risk is immediate. Law enforcement may position a patrol car with lights behind you, which dramatically improves safety. On busy interstates, this can be the difference between a tense standstill and a controlled scene.
In rural areas with poor coverage, text messages sometimes go through when calls will not. Send a brief, clear text to your tow provider or a trusted contact with your location and status. If you must leave the vehicle to get a signal, leave a note inside with contact information and lock up. Do not wander far or over hills where passing vehicles cannot see you.
The small kit that changes everything
A well-chosen roadside kit is not about gadgets, it is about reducing your exposure and buying time comfortably. You do not need a trunk full of tools to make a difference. A compact set can fit in a single pouch and live in your spare tire well for years without fuss.
The essentials I recommend to family and friends fit into five items:
- Reflective vest, road triangles, and a compact flashlight with extra batteries Portable jump starter and a quality tire inflator with a screw-on valve connector Heavy-duty tow strap or recovery rope rated for your vehicle, and a pair of work gloves An emergency blanket, a poncho, and a couple bottles of water A laminated card with insurance info, roadside assistance numbers, and a basic vehicle diagram (jack points, tow hook locations)
Even if you never touch the tow strap, having it means a helpful neighbor with a capable truck can pull you ten feet off a lane into safety while you wait for the professional tow. The vest and triangles are non-negotiable in my book; they transform your visibility. The portable jump starter saves the day in parking lots and avoids risky jumps from strangers in tight spaces. And the card with tow points eliminates guesswork for anyone helping, including the tow operator.
When a quick fix is worth it, and when it’s not
A flat tire on the right rear in a wide turnout with firm gravel? If you’re comfortable with the jack points and have a proper lug wrench, that might be a safe, ten-minute swap. A flat on the driver’s side of a narrow shoulder where trucks fly by at 70? Wait for the tow. The shortest job done in the wrong place becomes the longest day of your life.
Tire inflator and sealant kits have their place. They are great for punctures in the tread from a nail or screw. They are useless for a sidewall cut, and they can complicate sensor replacement later. If you use sealant, tell the tire shop in advance. Expect to replace a tire pressure sensor in some cases. The cost can be 40 to 120 dollars depending on model. That’s still cheaper than gambling with your safety.
A dead battery in a crowded garage with low clearance? Use the portable booster and back out to fresh air before doing anything else. An overheated engine five miles from the next exit? Pull off now. Running hot for those last few minutes can warp a head and turn a cheap coolant fix into a four-figure repair. One driver I met kept rolling for “just two more miles” with the temp needle pinned. The next call was to an engine builder, not a tow truck.
After the tow: avoid a second incident
People relax once the tow arrives, but the scene is not finished. Keep your awareness up while the vehicle is loaded. Do not step between the truck and your car unless the operator asks. Once the vehicle is secure, confirm the drop-off location and whether you need a gate code, a night key drop, or a contact at the shop. Take photos of the vehicle before it leaves and after it lands if you are not staying with it. Clear communication here prevents misunderstandings.
If you are being dropped at a roadside or at home after hours, plan your personal transport as well. A ride-share pickup is smoother from a lit, public lot than from a dark shoulder. Ask the tow driver to deliver you and the vehicle to a safe rendezvous point if the repair shop is closed. Most operators are happy to help, and it takes them only a few extra minutes.
A seasoned perspective on risk
Most roadside trouble never makes the news. It is solved quietly by people making conservative choices. The outliers we hear about follow a pattern: an exposed location, low visibility, a person between the car and traffic, or a rushed attempt at a fix. Your job while waiting for a tow truck is not to be a hero. It is to be boringly predictable to every driver passing you.
Be generous with information to your tow provider. Be stingy with movement near traffic. Use the shoulder like a hot stove: necessary at times, but not a place to linger. If you carry one thing after reading this, make it a reflective vest. If you adopt one habit, make it to exit from the passenger side on busy roads.
The tow truck is the cavalry, but your calm decisions set the stage. Stop where you can be seen. Make your presence obvious. Communicate clearly. Then give patience a chance to work. The rest is routine, and routine, on the roadside, is what you want.
Bronco Towing 4484 E Tennessee St Tucson, AZ 85714 (520) 885-1925